If you’ve read up on what myopia management actually is, you already know the basics: ortho-k, MiSight lenses, Stellest lenses, and why slowing progression early matters. The question that comes next is harder to Google: which doctor do you actually trust with this?
It’s a fair question. Finding the right myopia management doctor isn’t as simple as picking whoever’s closest, because not every eye doctor who lists “myopia management” on their website treats it the same way.
Not Every Eye Doctor Offers This (Or Offers All of It)
Plenty of optometrists will update your child’s glasses prescription every year without ever mentioning that progression itself can be slowed. Others offer one myopia control option, usually whichever lens brand they’re most familiar with, rather than fitting the treatment to your child.
That distinction matters. A child who’s active in sports and hates wearing glasses is a very different candidate than a child who’s anxious about anything touching their eyes. A doctor who only offers one option can’t make that call. They can only offer what they have.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Book
A short phone call can tell you a lot:
- “Do you specifically manage myopia progression, or just correct vision?” These are different services, even though both start with an eye exam.
- “How do you track whether treatment is actually working?” A stable-looking prescription isn’t the whole story. Ask whether they compare changes visit-over-visit and use corneal topography to track the shape of the eye over time, not just the numbers on your glasses.
- “What options do you offer: ortho-k, soft contact lenses, myopia control glasses?” More than one option means the plan gets built around your child, not the other way around.
- “How long have you been treating myopia progression specifically?” General experience as an optometrist isn’t the same as specific experience with myopia control.
What to Look For Beyond the Phone Call
Credentials and reputation are harder to fake than a website page. A few things worth checking:
- Professional affiliations: membership in an organization like the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control signals a doctor who treats this as a specialty, not a side offering.
- Years in the community: a doctor who’s been treating families in your area for decades has a track record you can ask other parents about.
- Recognition from the field itself: when a doctor is invited to write for or is featured in a national trade publication, it means their peers, not just their own marketing, see them as someone worth listening to on the subject.
Why We’re Sharing This
Dr. Sheryl Simms has practiced in the Phoenix area for 29 years, nearly 27 of them here in Chandler, and is a member of the American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control. Her work on building awareness around myopia management was recently featured in Contact Lens Spectrum, a national publication read by eye care professionals across the country. That recognition came from her peers in the field, not from us. Read more about that feature on our blog.
At Urban Optique & Eyecare, we offer several myopia management approaches: overnight vision correction (ortho-k), MiSight soft contact lenses, Stellest eyeglass lenses, and, most recently, the Euclid Bee Free Day daily disposable lens. The plan gets built around your child’s age, lifestyle, and comfort, not around what we happen to stock. You can see the full picture on our Myopia Management page.
Ready to Ask Us Those Questions?
We’re located in the Chandler Heights Marketplace on Gilbert Rd, next to ToScany’s Coal Oven Pizza, and we’re happy to walk through your child’s specific situation before you book anything.
Book an appointment or learn more about Dr. Simms and our team.
