Clairemont Optometry

This is a photo of one of our favorite patient with her unicorn . It makes me smile because it shows what OrthoK really looks like behind the scenes.

Yes, OrthoK starts with custom lenses, careful measurements, corneal topography, axial length tracking, and me trying to design the best treatment possible. But after that, it becomes a team effort.

Mom has to support the routine at home. The patient has to learn how to handle the lenses, build confidence, and stay consistent every night. Our OrthoK coordinator teaches, encourages, answers questions, troubleshoots the little things, and helps the family feel comfortable through the process.

Sometimes it takes the whole team and a unicorn.

That is one thing I love about myopia management. It is not just about giving a child a pair of lenses. It is about walking with the family, watching the child become more confident, and doing our best to protect long-term vision one visit at a time.

Proud of this Myopia Warrior and grateful for the people around her.

Does atropine work better in children with blue eyes compared to children with brown eyes?

A recent study published in Eye this month suggests that it might.

Lingham et al. 2026 (DOI: 10.1038/s41433-026-04478-1) looked at data from several randomized trials using low-dose atropine. When they broke it down by iris color, they found less myopia progression in children with lighter-colored eyes - blue, green, or hazel - compared to children with brown eyes when both groups used atropine 0.01% over a 24-month period.

With atropine 0.05%, they did not find the same iris color difference.

This was a post-hoc exploratory analysis, so I would not overstate it. But it is interesting indeed.

"A" is for Ortho-K

This is the topography map for one of my very best Ortho-K patients today. On the right eye, the movement of the epithelial cells overnight clearly resembles an "A".

I think the Ortho-K deity somewhere up there is trying to tell me something. If you look at the left eye, the topo pattern is not as "perfect" as the right eye, and also her Axial Length of the left eye increased slightly since last visit vs. the flat axial length of the right eye.

I told my little patient that "she got an A" for the exam today, and she goes "Yay".

I think I'll go "Yay" too. At least its' not an "F" 😅

3.1 million bottles of eye drops sold at Walgreens, CVS and more are recalled.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eye-drops-recall-3-1-million-fda-walgreens-cvs-brand-list/ #

A recent recall involved more than 3.1 million bottles of eye drops sold under multiple store and private-label brands at major retailers, including Walgreens and CVS, because of sterility concerns. The FDA classified it as a Class II recall, meaning the products may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences, while the probability of serious harm is considered remote.

This also follows earlier FDA warnings about certain over-the-counter eye drops sold under major store brands due to the risk of eye infection in 2023 . Back then, the FDA already told consumers to stop using specific products because of contamination and manufacturing concerns.

For families in our myopia management program, this matters. Many of these kids are already asking a lot from their eyes every day with school, screens, contact lenses, and treatment plans that need consistency. Also for my dry eye patients, the surface of the eye is already irritated and vulnerable. That is why I tend to recommend brand-name solutions first.

Parents and patients should know that not all eye drops are equal, and not all artificial tears should be treated like interchangeable commodities. Sometimes the safer choice is also the smarter long-term choice, even though saving a few dollars is understandable.

I have been saying this for a long time in clinic, and this is just a reminder of one of the reasons why.

3.1 million bottles of eye drops sold at Walgreens, CVS and more are recalled. Here's what to know. The eye drops — sold under multiple brands — have been recalled over concerns about sterility, according to the FDA.

Out of office: making memories instead of meetings 🎢