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.
”