Joining The Myopia Collective as a Change Agent earlier this year reinforced my commitment to transforming the status quo in optometry and establishing a new standard of care for children with myopia.1,2 It built on the advocacy work I was already doing within my practice and community, and I was eager to expand these efforts on a larger scale.
For a bit of background, The Myopia Collective is a collaborative initiative aimed at advancing myopia management through education, advocacy, and the empowerment of eyecare professionals, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and promoting best practices in the field.1 As a Change Agent with The Myopia Collective, I’m tasked with being an advocate for improved myopia management practices and policies within my state of Idaho.2
This being a new role for me, I was both excited and grateful for the training I received from CooperVision and the American Optometric Association (AOA) during the early months of my appointment. This training equipped me with the skills needed to proactively engage in legislative and community advocacy, while also giving me the confidence to apply these insights within my practice and community.
Why advocacy is essential for optometry
Driven by a combination of environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors, it’s projected that by 2050, nearly half of the global population will be affected by myopia.3 In certain regions, the prevalence of myopia already exceeds 90%.4
Individuals with high myopia face an increased risk of severe eye conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment.5 Given the scale of this growing epidemic, it is more important than ever to advocate for early detection, prevention, and effective management strategies.
5 ways optometrists can improve myopia management
My passion for improving children’s access to vision care accelerated when I learned that my state is one of the few that does not require a vision screening for school-age children. As I became more engaged with The Myopia Collective and participated in additional workshops, I discovered numerous actionable steps that eyecare providers (ECPs) can take immediately to drive change and create a significant impact on a larger scale.
Here are five ways ECPs can begin advocating for myopia management to start influencing policy, raising awareness, and ensuring our younger patients receive the essential care they deserve.
1. Embrace your role as an expert.
It might seem obvious, but the first step to being successful in your advocacy role is to remind yourself that you’re the expert. Owning your knowledge and experience will give you the confidence needed to take the first steps.
Fight off imposter syndrome by remembering that you are the leading authority in the field. Legislators and policymakers often lack specialized knowledge about eye health and rely on experts to guide their decisions. They’re looking to you and welcoming your insight.
Start by owning your expertise. This means staying informed about the latest developments in myopia management and understanding the broader implications of myopia for public health. Armed with this knowledge, you can confidently communicate the importance of myopia management in meetings with legislators, during community events, or in public forums.
Your credibility as an expert is invaluable, and your voice carries weight in shaping discussions about healthcare policies. You’ve got this.
2. Build relationships with legislators.
Just as building relationships with patients is important for fostering trust and improving care outcomes, building and maintaining strong relationships with legislators is central to effective advocacy. Knowing this, the best time to reach out to legislators is when you don’t need anything. Initiating a conversation when the stakes are low helps establish trust and rapport, making it easier to approach them when a critical issue arises.
To start, identify the legislators in your district or state who have an interest in healthcare, education, or child welfare—areas that intersect with myopia management. I recommend using online tools like House.gov and USA.gov to assist with your search.
Once identified, attend their public events, introduce yourself, and express your willingness to serve as a resource. Maintaining the relationship is essential, and this can be done through regular emails or engagement on their social media platforms. Sharing relevant updates or research about myopia and its impact on children is a great way to stay engaged.
Connecting on a personal level with your legislators can also help to nurture these relationships. Friendships can be established through common kids’ activities, school or church events, and other shared interests and hobbies.
For example, I recently ran into the legislator for my district, Senator Todd Lakey, at a church-sponsored pickleball activity. I rallied enough courage to share my concerns about the lack of requirements for children’s vision care in our state. He was receptive, and we’ve arranged to meet for lunch soon to further discuss how to improve children’s access to vision care in our community.
Establishing strong relationships takes time and effort, but the impact can be far-reaching, particularly when legislation related to vision care comes to the table.
3. Stay engaged throughout the legislative cycle.
Legislative advocacy isn’t a one-time activity; it’s a continuous process. It’s important to engage with legislators before, during, and after legislative sessions.
During the off-season, schedule meetings to discuss long-term goals or raise awareness about myopia. During active sessions, monitor relevant bills and advocate for policies that support access to myopia management care via your local state-affiliated association.
After sessions conclude, follow up with legislators to thank them for their support or provide additional insights about their decisions. Remaining active year-round will allow you to position yourself as a trusted partner in advancing the interests of your profession and your patients.
4. Create a mentorship and partnership model.
Advocacy efforts shouldn’t be a solo endeavor. Foster mentorships and partner with younger optometrists to amplify their efforts. This approach not only broadens the base of advocates, but also helps build a pipeline of future leaders committed to advancing the profession.
If you’re an experienced OD, consider mentoring a recent graduate or a young optometrist interested in advocacy. Share your experiences, offer guidance on approaching legislators, and encourage their involvement in professional organizations. Partnering with someone who brings fresh energy and ideas to the table can lead to innovative strategies for promoting myopia management at the state level.
5. Invest time and energy in advocacy.
Lastly, invest time and energy in advocacy because the relationships you build now can shape the future of optometry. Legislative change doesn’t happen overnight, but persistent efforts over time can yield significant results. We’re all busy with our practices and our patients, so my advice is to start small by setting aside a few hours each month to focus on advocacy.
This could include writing letters to legislators, attending advocacy events, or joining your state optometric association’s legislative committee. These activities not only strengthen your own advocacy skills but also contribute to the larger goal of advancing myopia management as a standard of care.
In conclusion
One thing you can do, starting today, is to show your support for the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act of 2024 (EDVI Act), which is a landmark, bipartisan legislation that seeks to establish the first federal program that will specifically address children’s vision and eye health.6
One final reminder, the relationships optometrists build with legislators can have a lasting impact on the profession. When legislators understand the challenges and opportunities within optometry, they’re more likely to support policies that benefit both practitioners and patients.
The time to act is now and know that you’re not alone. Whether you have a group of colleagues working alongside you, support from professional organizations, or guidance from programs like The Myopia Collective, there are resources and allies ready to help you make an impact. Advocacy starts with small, intentional steps, and together we can create lasting change for our profession and our patients.
