Understanding the Parent and Child Journey: Q&A with Xu Cheng, Alex Nixon and Meredith Bishop

Successfully implementing myopia management requires more than just selecting an evidence-based treatment: it depends on understanding the concerns, perceptions, and motivations that influence family decision-making. From the initial diagnosis through to treatment selection, eye care practitioners play a critical role in educating parents, addressing misconceptions, and helping children feel confident about their management options. In this Q&A, Dr. Xu Cheng (Clinical Research Fellow and Myopia Lead), Dr. Alex Nixon (Principal Research Optometrist), and Dr. Meredith Bishop (Global Medical Education for Myopia), all from Johnson & Johnson, discuss the emotional and practical factors that shape myopia management conversations, explore common barriers to pediatric contact lens wear, and share insights on setting expectations for ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day as a myopia control option.

Xu Cheng: Parents may have mixed responses when their child is first diagnosed with myopia. For some, the news can trigger considerable worry about the potential for progression and how this might affect their child’s vision and quality of life over the long term. Other parents, however, may initially view the diagnosis as less concerning, believing it is simply a matter of needing vision correction and may not fully appreciate the importance of early intervention and ongoing management.¹ 

Kids can experience a range of emotions when first told they are myopic. Many feel a sense of worry or uncertainty creeping in, particularly about how wearing glasses might affect their appearance or change how others perceive them. Some children are concerned that glasses could make them stand out or be teased by peers, while others worry about practical issues such as whether they’ll still be able to play sport or participate in their favorite activities.¹ 

Xu Cheng: Eye care practitioners (ECPs) may commonly assume that children diagnosed with myopia simply require vision correction, such as glasses or contact lenses, without considering the importance of early intervention for myopia control. This assumption can lead to delayed conversations about myopia management, with practitioners postponing discussion until the child’s myopia progresses further or becomes more severe. However, current research highlights that any delay in management represents a missed opportunity to intervene and potentially slow the worsening of myopia.²  

When ECPs do broach the topic of myopia management, another common assumption is that parents and children will only be receptive to certain treatment types. This mindset can inadvertently limit the range of myopia control options presented. By not thoroughly discussing all possibilities, ECPs may miss the chance to educate families about treatments that could better suit their child’s needs or preferences. Moreover, parents and children may feel empowered and more confident in decision-making when they understand the variety of available options and their respective benefits and trade-offs. 

Alex Nixon: Children may not have family members who use contact lenses, and without personal experience they may have preconceptions about contact lenses that create barriers. For example, some kids may anticipate that contact lenses will feel strange or uncomfortable or worry that applying and removing them will be too tricky or even scary. These misconceptions can cause hesitation or anxiety, making kids less likely to consider contact lenses as a viable option, if not addressed.¹ 

On top of that, a lot of parents don't know that contact lenses are available for kids. Many parents may simply assume that contact lenses are only suitable for older teenagers or adults and, if ECPs fail to discuss this option, the parents miss out on the chance to learn about the safety, effectiveness, and suitability of modern contact lenses for younger children. Even if they aren’t ready to try contact lenses yet, this discussion may plant the seed for a future contact lens wearer. 

Alex Nixon: Parents can be strongly motivated to consider contact lenses for their children when an ECP presents contact lenses as an option, discusses their benefits, and provides examples of success in younger wearers. Reassurance about the safety, hygiene protocols, and effectiveness of myopia control contact lenses for kids can help ease parental concerns, particularly if the ECP proactively addresses common misconceptions and provides practical tips for care and management. This supportive approach helps parents feel more confident in their decision-making and more comfortable with the idea of their child using contact lenses as part of their myopia management plan.

For kids, motivation often stems from the lifestyle benefits that contact lenses offer. Many children are excited by the increased freedom and convenience, especially when it comes to activities like sport, dancing, or playing musical instruments—situations where glasses might be inconvenient, uncomfortable, or simply get in the way. The desire to fit in with peers and avoid feeling self-conscious about wearing glasses can also be a significant driver. 

When both parents and children receive information tailored to their unique concerns and interests, they are more likely to feel empowered to consider contact lenses as a valuable solution for effective myopia management. 

Meredith Bishop: ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day wearers report a great visual experience. To ensure a positive and seamless transition, it’s helpful for the ECP to reassure the child and parents that most kids adapt well to their new vision, and that any initial adjustment is a normal part of the process.  By the end of the first month, 95% of kids wearing ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day lenses achieved visual acuity (VA) of 20/20 (6/6) or better.^{3 ϯ} Additionally, over 90% of children wearing the lenses agreed that ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day provided clear, crisp vision.^π This high level of visual performance and satisfaction demonstrates that the majority of children adapt well to these lenses and can enjoy clear vision for their daily activities, including schoolwork, sport, and social interactions.

Meredith Bishop: The ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day lens addresses an unmet need in our myopic pediatric population by not only correcting vision, but also reducing myopia progression by 0.72 D^* and axial elongation by 0.31 mm^#, on average, over a 3-year period, compared to a single vision contact lens.⁴ 

ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day lenses are made from the same material as ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day with HydraLuxe® Technology contact lenses, which have never been beaten in comfort in 6 clinical studies posted on ClinicalTrials.gov.^   Additionally, ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day is optimized for pediatric lens fit and ease of handling by utilizing a relatively smaller lens diameter compared with ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day.⁵  These lenses are part of the ACUVUE® portfolio aimed at supporting lifelong eye health.

^Ϯ Measured using LogMAR visual acuity where 0.00 LogMAR is equivalent to 20/20 vision.

^π JJV Data on File, 2021 Top 2 Box = Always or Usually.

*As measured by spherical equivalent of cycloplegic auto refraction, compared to a single vision contact lens, based on 3-year outcome of a pivotal clinical trial. 

^#Compared to a single vision contact lens, based on 3-year outcome of a pivotal clinical trial. 

^ClinicalTrials.gov is a website maintained by the NIH. The 6 clinical studies evaluated subjective comfort as a primary or secondary endpoint for ACUVUE® OASYS 1-Day with HydraLuxe® Technology Brand family contact lenses vs. competitors’ products. Review conducted as of April 30, 2026.

Important Safety Information: ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day Soft Therapeutic Lenses for Myopia Management are available by prescription only for the correction of myopia (while the lenses are worn) and may slow the progression of myopia in children (7-12 years old). As with any contact lens, eye problems, including corneal ulcers, can develop. Some wearers may experience mild irritation, itching or discomfort. These lenses should not be prescribed if patients have any eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness, or other eye problems. Due to the intended optical design of these lenses for the purpose of reducing the patient’s prescription change, these lenses will provide vision correction while worn, but the vision quality may not be as clear as with conventional soft contact lenses. Patients should exercise extra care if performing potentially hazardous, vision demanding activities. Complete information is also available from Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, a division of Johnson & Johnson (Canada) Inc. by calling 1-877-334-3937, option 4, or by visiting www.seeyourabiliti.com."