Optometrist with a solid background and a critical perspective based on scientific evidence, Laura Batres shares in this interview and in her upcoming presentation at the IX International Congress of Developmental Optometry, Therapy, and Visual Rehabilitation the role that contact lenses play as a tool for providing individualized visual care from childhood. In the context of her conference, she reflects on the relationship between childhood visual development and the evolution of pediatric contactology, and encourages her colleagues to incorporate this approach into their daily practice with confidence, judgment, and clinical rigor.
From your perspective, what are the reasons why an optician-optometrist should be aware of the alternatives that contact lenses represent?
Contact lenses represent a powerful and versatile tool in optometric practice, both for refractive correction and for managing specific conditions such as high ametropias, aphakias, and myopia control. A thorough understanding of this alternative allows the optician-optometrist to offer personalized and up-to-date options to each patient, improving their visual quality, comfort, and well-being. Additionally, staying current with innovations in materials and lens designs is key to providing comprehensive and evidence-based care.
What is the relationship between developmental optometry and a greater understanding of contact lenses in the pediatric population?
I consider it valuable that any movement promoting greater attention to the pediatric population also helps to highlight the importance of contact lens use in this group. Personally, my view of optometry is based on scientific evidence; the study of children's visual development should be conducted under methodological research criteria. Understanding the particularities of visual development in childhood and adolescence is essential for making informed decisions about when and how to introduce contact lenses, especially in the context of myopia control.
"Comprender las particularidades del desarrollo visual en la infancia y adolescencia es esencial para tomar decisiones informadas sobre cuándo y cómo introducir lentes de contacto"
How would you encourage those optometrists who haven't decided to attend your presentation?
I would invite you to see this presentation as an opportunity to update your knowledge, resolve practical questions, and discover how pediatric contact lens fitting can be integrated naturally and effectively into your daily practice. Beyond theory, we will share real clinical experiences and applicable strategies that can make a difference in the follow-up of your younger patients.
In your opinion, what role does developmental optometry play in the training and evolution of pediatric contactology?
While there are different approaches within optometry, what is indisputable is the need to deepen the understanding of children's visual development. A detailed study of the evolution of the visual system in childhood, regardless of the theoretical approach adopted, is a key foundation for ethical, safe, and effective pediatric contactology. Therefore, any initiative that promotes interest in the pediatric population can pave the way for better practices, as long as it is guided by scientific evidence and clinical reasoning.