JUNE 27 • 2024 | 35

are on the FDA breakthrough 
fast track because of their prov-
en efficacy in the studies per-
formed and are already in use 
in at least 30 other countries. 
Kresch spearheaded the 
Myopia Control Clinic at 
Columbia University, which 
both optometrists and ophthal-
mologists would be comfortable 
with. She has lectured fre-
quently about the latest myopia 
research and clinical practice 
and published articles on the 
topic. 
During COVID, Kresch and 
her husband, Shmuel, decided 
to move with their young chil-
dren back home to Michigan 
(which they call “the happiest 
place on earth”) to live closer to 
their families. 
Once in Detroit, Kresch 
joined Kresge Eye Institute 
at Wayne State University’s 
ophthalmology department as 
the director of optometry and 
clinical assistant professor of 

ophthalmology. When she real-
ized there was a strong need for 
specialized prosthetic contact 
lenses, Kresch became specially 
trained with them. 
“Most people only wear 
contact lenses for cosmetic 
reasons, as an alternative to 
glasses,
” explained Kresch. “But 
there are some people who have 
deformed corneas, scarring, 
trauma, corneal diseases or 
an unusual prescription that 
doesn’t get fixed with regular 
contact lenses. They need med-

ically necessary customized 
specialty contact lenses. My 
favorite, a ‘scleral lens,
’ is simply 
magical.
” 
When Kresch fitted her first 
three patients with these spe-
cialized contact lenses, each 
cried with joy — they could see! 
For one patient, it was the first 
time she could see clearly in 20 
years, and she was finally able 
to get her driver’s license. 
In 2023, Kresch gave birth to 
her fourth child and, wanting 
more flexibility, she left Kresge 

Eye Institute. She opened her 
own practice, Michigan Contact 
Lens in Oak Park, where she 
focuses on specialty contact 
lenses and myopia manage-
ment. 
She also remains a volun-
teer faculty as clinical assistant 
professor of ophthalmology 
at Wayne State’s School of 
Medicine. 
According to Kresch, 
research estimates that half the 
world will be myopic by the 
year 2050. 
“But there are things we can 
do to slow this down,
” Kresch 
said. “Discussion about myo-
pia management should begin 
immediately at the time of first 
diagnosis.
“I am on a mission! Parents 
need to know there are ways 
to help their kids. They aren’t 
perfect, but they do exist. They 
weren’t around while we were 
growing up, but we can do bet-
ter for our kids now.
” 

