Imagine a world where a simple treatment could transform a child’s life, allowing them to see the world in sharp detail for the first time. Yet, for countless American children with myopia, this reality remains frustratingly out of reach—not because the treatment doesn’t exist, but because of a regulatory system that fails them at every turn. As a pediatric ophthalmologist, I’m exhausted from telling patients and their families that a proven solution is unavailable to them. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about clearer vision; it’s about giving children the tools to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Democracy Dies in Darkness, and nowhere is this more evident than in the opaque processes that keep life-changing treatments from those who need them most. American children with myopia deserve better than this regulatory failure. Let me take you back to my own childhood: at age 8, I put on my first pair of glasses and was stunned to see individual leaves on trees and blades of grass—details that had been a blur moments before. That’s the power of addressing myopia early. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite advances in treatments, many children are left behind due to outdated policies and bureaucratic hurdles.
As president of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of Rebion, I’ve seen firsthand the potential of innovative solutions. Yet, I’ve also witnessed the heartbreak of families denied access to them. Is it fair that children’s futures are held hostage by a system that prioritizes red tape over real-world impact? I’ll let you be the judge. But one thing is clear: it’s time to demand better for our children. What do you think? Is this a failure we’re willing to accept, or is it time to spark change? Let’s start the conversation.
