Failure To Launch
Ortho-K Fundamentals: Why Skipping Steps Leads to Failure
A universal truth is something that almost everyone accepts. In our specialty, the fact that Ortho-K and even myopia management itself are not easy to implement into a modern practice seems to be a present reality.
We experienced this firsthand when I was in charge of the AAOMC. We have a course called Bootcamp, which is basically everything you could imagine you would want to cover in a two- or three-day course, including the modalities available to us to perform effective myopia management. Yes, we had a special emphasis on Ortho-K, but we covered all of it that was available at the time. Thank you, Caroline Cauchi and others who put this together and continue to produce this excellent product. At the end of this course, we had a room full of motivated ECPs who were gung-ho, ready to change their practices and the world. It was inspirational and life-changing…at least we all thought so.
Well, those were all nice thoughts, because what we learned from the experience is that only a few of the attendees actually successfully launched the concept and received their “wings.” The vast majority either came back for a refresher course or dropped out entirely, leaving us with the “Failure To Launch” syndrome. The question we all asked in our yearly reviews is why, and what could be done to change the outcome.
Our success here is not an aberration. It seems that in a lot of cases, even today, only about 20% of us are doing 80% of all the heavy lifting in our field. That is, doing more than a few cases of MM a month, leading to a number of questions about why it is so hard to incorporate this model into practice. What are we doing or not doing in our daily routines that complicate what should be a straightforward process of growth and implementation?
In the case of Ortho-K, is it due to lack of advanced training, or simply lack of experience, or lack of background in the dynamics of fitting an RGP lens with a reverse geometry design? Are we, in the process of bringing success to our colleagues, trying to skip necessary steps to understanding the dynamics behind fitting this lens? The good news is that it seems that finally our industry is stepping up to deliver state-of-the-art products and support for our ECPs. Will this turn the corner, leading more of those enthusiastic Bootcampers to adopt and launch in numbers higher than the twenty percent or so? I do love that amazing high we all got at the end of the sessions, and our attendees went off to change the world of myopia management, and I only wish to share that experience with more of you!
by Cary Herzberg, OD, FIAOMC, IACMM - Guest Contributor
The views, opinions, and insights expressed by contributors and guests of The Myopia Mindset are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of The Myopia Mindset, it’s host, the podcast, it’s sponsors or affiliates.
Dr Herzberg practices in a group setting at DuPage Optical in Addison Illinois. He completed his Bachelor of Science Degree and his Doctor of Optometry Degree from Illinois College of Optometry in 1969 and 1971.
Dr Herzberg is the founder and former president of the AAOMC formerly the OAA and president of the IAOMC. He is an advisory board member of GPLI while doing peer review for Eye and Contact Lens as well as a consultant for Johnson and Johnson.
He frequently speaks and writes on the topics of myopia management and Orthokeratology around the world.
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