The Myopia Mindset

The Myopia Mindset
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The Myopia Mindset podcast features deep interviews with passionate and successful change-makers in the myopia industry. As well as the latest news, topics, and commentary about what makes myopia management truly special.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    MMP 63 | Why the FDA Said No to a Drug That Could Save Kids' Eyes

    A Texas ophthalmologist sits down to explain the lifetime risks of myopia to a 6-year-old's mom — and mid-sentence realizes the mom, still in her 20s, has already had retinal detachments in both eyes from her own untreated nearsightedness. That's the gap this episode is about: the gap between what we know myopia does to people, and what the FDA's drug division decided was "not clinically meaningful" when it rejected SYD-101 — Sydnexis's stable, low-dose atropine drop — last fall. Dr. Cary Herzberg, a 40-plus-year ortho-K/myopia management pioneer, walks through the STAR study, the fast-progressor data Sydnexis dropped at AAPOS, and why a drug that's approved in Europe is still locked out of American practices. We get into how the FDA's own request to add older patients dragged the headline numbers down, what 47.9% / 37.6% / 28.0% actually means for a kid, and what an everyday optometrist, ophthalmologist, or parent can do this week to push back. What We Cover In This Episode: Sydnexis & SYD-101 — the company and the 0.01% low-dose atropine drop that this episode is about. https://sydnexis.com/ Sydnexis Press Release Data Presented At AAPOS — https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260323823740/en/Sydnexis-Announces-New-Data-from-Phase-3-STAR-Trial-of-SYD-101-Presented-at-2026-AAPOS-Annual-Meeting The STAR study — Sydnexis’s 3-year, 847-patient pediatric myopia trial across the U.S. and Europe. https://sydnexis.com/resource/evidence-from-the-star-study-a-novel-low-dose-atropine-eye-drop-slows-the-progression-of-pediatric-myopia/ https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2804883 Washington Post article — A drug for myopia could help millions of kids. The FDA is keeping it off the shelves (by David G. Hunter) https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/02/10/fda-myopia-drug-trial/ Inside Health Policy article — Pediatric Myopia Drug is Latest In String of Unexpected FDA Rejections (by Jessica Karins) https://insidehealthpolicy.com/inside-drug-pricing-daily-news/pediatric-myopia-drug-latest-string-unexpected-fda-rejections American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS)— https://www.aapos.org/home The LAMP study — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30514630/ Stellest spectacle lenses — https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/essilor-stellest-fda/ American Academy of Orthokeratology and Myopia Control (AAOMC) — https://aaomc.org/ Petition to classify pediatric progressive myopia as a disease — Urgent Call for U.S. Children to Have Access to an FDA-Approved Low-Dose Atropine https://www.change.org/p/urgent-call-for-u-s-children-to-have-access-to-an-fda-approved-low-dose-atropine-68d0a62c-8058-48bb-ab09-9c586d3a3ff6?recruiter=1397201700&recruited_by_id=25f73080-d542-11f0-94d3-2b1ed6b14439&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard&utm_medium=copylink WHO projection — https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160217113308.htm

  2. 24 APR

    62 MMP | pt1 - How a Top Children's Hospital Built a Myopia Program That Treats Every Kid

    What does it look like to build a full-spectrum myopia management program inside one of the country’s top pediatric hospitals — and what can every optometrist learn from it? 🔗 Subscribe on Substack - video podcasts + articles + exclusive bonus content 📸 Instagram / TikTok / Linkedin - connect + daily insights In Part 1 of this special episode of the Myopia Mindset podcast, host Matthew Herzberg sits down with Drs. Magda Stec, Noreen Shaikh, and Shelby Johnson from the ophthalmology division at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. The doctors take us inside a program that’s been building for nearly eight years — starting with low-concentration atropine and evolving into a full toolbox that includes MiSight, Ortho-K, Biofinity toric multifocal, and now FDA-approved Stellest lenses. You’ll hear how Lurie’s philosophy of offering myopia management to every patient — including those on public aid — came together, and how the division created a collaborative culture where ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, and pediatricians all speak the same language. The panel also covers what a solid baseline workup looks like, how to approach pediatricians for cross-referrals, and how they navigate the conversion conversation with parents in a time-efficient way. If this episode fires you up about myopia management, subscribe — Part 2 drops soon and covers confidence-building, staff training, and whether Stellest glasses will finally blow open the category for optometrists everywhere.

  3. 17 APR

    Episode 61 - SUPPORTERS PREVIEW: Ortho-K Benefits And How To Communicate Them To Parents (Part 2)

    Support us on Substack for the full episode here: https://myopiamindset.substack.com/ Knowing the benefits of Ortho-K is one thing but getting parents to understand and say yes is another. In Part 2 of this Myopia Mindset podcast conversation, Dr. Matthew Martin, Dr. Leah Johnson, and Dr. Cary Herzberg dive into how to communicate Ortho-K effectively to parents, bridging the gap between clinical knowledge and real-world decision-making. This is where many practices struggle, not because Ortho-K doesn’t work, but because the message isn’t landing. In Part 2, we cover: How to frame Ortho-K in a way parents immediately understand The biggest communication mistakes doctors make How to simplify complex concepts like myopia progression Positioning Ortho-K as a necessity, not a luxury Building trust and confidence during the consult If you’ve ever had a parent hesitate or say no; this podcast episode focuses on how optometrists can communicate the value of orthokeratology to parents, improve patient acceptance, and increase success in myopia management through better consultation strategies. How do you engage your parents and increase conversions in your practice? Let us know in the comments!

  4. 10 APR

    Episode 60 - Ortho-K Benefits And How To Communicate Them To Parents (Part 1)

    In this episode of the Myopia Mindset, Matthew Herzberg is joined by Dr. Matthew Martin, Dr. Leah Johnson, and Dr. Cary Herzberg to break down the all of the benefits of Ortho-K and why they resonate so strongly with parents when communicated effectively. Support Myopia Mindset Podcast on Substack for full episodes and bonus content: https://myopiamindset.substack.com/ From daytime freedom from glasses to long-term eye health and myopia control, this conversation focuses on what actually matters to families—and how to position Ortho-K as more than just “another option.” In Part 1, we cover: The biggest lifestyle benefits of Ortho-K for kids How freedom from glasses and contacts impacts confidence and activities The long-term health benefits of myopia control Why parents don’t always recognize these benefits right away The gap between clinical value and perceived value Orthokeratology isn’t just a treatment—it’s a life-changing solution for kids and their families. This video explains the benefits of orthokeratology (Ortho-K) for children and how it helps with myopia management. It focuses on lifestyle advantages, long-term eye health, and why parents choose Ortho-K over other myopia management treatments.

  5. 2 APR

    Episode 59 - Ortho-k Success, What Fitters Often Overlook | Part 2

    Looking for more Myopia Mindset? Subscribe on our Substack for full episodes and bonus content: https://myopiamindset.substack.com/ Welcome back to The Myopia Mindset! In Part 2 of this Ortho-K deep dive, Matthew Herzberg and Dr. Cary Herzberg continue their conversation on what truly drives success in orthokeratology and why most fitters struggle to reach consistent outcomes. This episode shifts from foundational concepts into real clinical application. The discussion focuses on common pitfalls, including inaccurate measurements, poor diameter selection, limited topography data, and misunderstanding lens design precision. Dr. Herzberg emphasizes that Ortho-K is not something you can casually implement. It requires commitment, attention to detail, and a willingness to continuously refine your approach. A major highlight of this episode is a clear and practical breakdown of Jessen Factor, what it is, how it works, and why it plays a critical role in effective myopia management. The conversation challenges common fears around overcorrection and explains how increasing treatment effect can actually improve outcomes when applied correctly. You will also learn how to troubleshoot difficult cases by working through the “usual suspects,” why 80 percent of fits can succeed even when imperfect, and how to close the gap on the remaining 20 percent that define true expertise. Beyond technique, this episode reinforces a mindset shift. Great Ortho-K outcomes come from precision, repetition, and ownership of the process, not shortcuts or overreliance on software. If you want to elevate your results and build confidence in complex cases, this episode delivers a practical framework you can apply immediately.

  6. 26 MAR

    Episode 58 - Ortho-k Success, What Fitters Often Overlook (Part 1)

    Looking for more Myopia Mindset? Consider becoming a subscriber on our substack: https://myopiamindset.substack.com/ In this episode of The Myopia Mindset, host Matthew Herzberg sits down with industry pioneer Dr. Cary Herzberg to break down some of the most overlooked drivers of orthokeratology success, the fundamentals that many fitters miss. While many practitioners focus on surface level metrics, this conversation goes deeper into the why behind successful Ortho-K outcomes. The discussion covers key concepts such as corneal volume, HVID, diameter selection, eccentricity, and overall corneal shape. Dr. Herzberg shares decades of clinical insight, explaining how these variables interact and why even low myopia cases can sometimes be more challenging than higher prescriptions. You will also hear the origin story behind important Ortho-K principles, including the role of hydraulic forces, the evolution of lens design, and how modern approaches have improved outcomes. More importantly, this episode emphasizes the mindset shift required to truly master Ortho-K by moving away from total reliance on labs and toward developing strong clinical intuition and problem solving skills. If you have ever struggled with inconsistent results, confusing fits, or cases that should have worked but did not, this episode provides a clearer framework for evaluating and approaching your patients. This is Part 1 of a deeper series on Ortho-K success, so be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for what comes next.

  7. 19 MAR

    Episode 57 - The Myopia Management Learning Curve | Part 2: Practice Confidence, Community, and Patient Impact

    Support us on Substack for the full episode: https://myopiamindset.substack.com/ Once clinicians move past the initial learning curve, myopia management can transform both a practice and a career. In Part 2 of this discussion, Dr. Christine Yeung explores how doctors build thriving myopia management programs and the unexpected rewards that come with it. From difficult cases that ultimately succeed to the powerful impact of patient referrals, myopia management often grows into a defining part of a practice.

  8. 12 MAR

    Episode 56 - The Myopia Management Learning Curve | Part 1: From Doubt to Breakthrough Results

    Become a Subscriber on our Substack - https://myopiamindset.substack.com/ Myopia management can feel intimidating when you first start. Many clinicians worry about complex prescriptions, difficult lens designs, and whether the treatment will even work. In Part 1 of this conversation, Dr. Christine Yeung shares her early journey into myopia management and orthokeratology, including the steep learning curve that many doctors experience before they gain confidence. What initially feels impossible often becomes routine with experience. Become a Subscriber - https://myopiamindset.substack.com/

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About

The Myopia Mindset podcast features deep interviews with passionate and successful change-makers in the myopia industry. As well as the latest news, topics, and commentary about what makes myopia management truly special.

Information

  • Creator
    The Myopia Mindset
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    The Myopia Mindset