Parents and healthcare providers go to great lengths to ensure children hit key health and developmental milestones—from prenatal checkups and well-baby visits to dental cleanings and immunizations. Despite its essential role in learning, development, and quality of life, pediatric eyecare remains underprioritized in both clinical practice and public health policy.1
As optometrists, it can be disheartening to see that despite the many proactive steps taken to support children’s health, eyecare is often left out of the conversation. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that children receive their first comprehensive eye exam between 6 and 12 months of age,2 but how often does that really happen?
That gap in awareness was one of the reasons why, when the AOA and CooperVision launched The Myopia Collective, I jumped at the chance to become involved.
What’s The Myopia Collective?
The Myopia Collective, powered by the AOA and CooperVision, is a groundbreaking partnership to rally the optometry profession and its allies to deliver the standard of care for children with myopia, shifting the focus from mere correction to embracing comprehensive treatment and prevention.3
The initiative provides a framework for optometrists—both in clinical practice and in their communities—to educate, collaborate, and advocate on behalf of children’s vision. As a Change Agent for The Myopia Collective in my home state of Idaho, I’m proud to be part of a growing network of advocates driving this movement forward.
Figure 1: Image of Dr. Scott Gibbons, Idaho Change Agent at The Myopia Collective.
Figure 1: Courtesy of Scott Gibbons, OD.
We’re a group of ambassadors who receive specialized training in myopia management and lead grassroots efforts to raise awareness, influence policy, and expand access to care for our most vulnerable patients. I have witnessed firsthand how individual practitioners can influence both patient care and broader systemic change.
Collectively, Change Agents across the nation are moving pediatric vision care from a reactive approach to a proactive one, helping to ensure that every child receives early, evidence-based interventions that can slow the progression of myopia.
Figure 2: Change Agents came together in Phoenix, Arizona, in October 2025 for their annual training workshop.
Figure 2: Courtesy of Scott Gibbons, OD.
Why advocacy in optometry matters
Advocacy is about turning clinical insight into meaningful change beyond the exam room. Optometrists are uniquely positioned to champion change because we witness firsthand how vision transforms lives. These experiences, stories of early intervention, improved learning outcomes, and better quality of life, carry weight when shared with policymakers.
Effective advocacy brings these stories to light and makes them actionable. It can take many forms, such as:
- Meeting with elected officials or their staff to emphasize the importance of children’s vision policies.
- Sharing real-life examples of how early detection and myopia management have made a profound difference.
- Supporting legislation that increases access to comprehensive eyecare.
- Leading public awareness efforts to promote the value of regular eye exams.
Even small efforts, like speaking at a school board meeting or participating in a local health initiative, can spark ripple effects that ultimately influence state and national policy.
From local action to national impact
Advocacy begins in our own communities, but its reach can, and should, extend to the national stage. The Myopia Collective provides a platform for optometrists to amplify their voices and influence policy decisions that shape children’s vision care across the country. Through education, collaboration, and strategic initiatives, the Collective is working to position children’s vision as a critical public health priority.
The Myopia Collective bridges local efforts with national impact by creating opportunities for optometrists to represent their patients on a larger stage. The dual approach of combining local action with national influence empowers optometrists to drive lasting improvements in pediatric eyecare.
The Myopia Collective’s advocacy efforts are rooted in a clear mission:
- Promote legislation that supports vision screenings, comprehensive eye exams, and access to myopia management for children.
- Raise awareness among policymakers and the public about the growing prevalence of myopia and its potential long-term impacts.
- Ensure equity in access to early detection and interventions, so that every child has an opportunity to see clearly today and have better eye health for life.
By advancing these goals, we aim to transform pediatric vision care from a model centered on correction to one focused on prevention, early intervention, and lifelong management.
How optometrists can get involved
Advocacy is not limited to those who are able to travel to Washington, D.C. Every optometrist can contribute to advancing pediatric eye health.
A few things you can do right now:
- Join The Myopia Collective as a member: Becoming a Member of The Collective provides access to updates on advocacy efforts, educational resources, and stories from optometrists making an impact in their communities. Membership offers the tools and platform to actively engage in initiatives that promote children’s vision care nationwide.
- Engage with the AOA Advocacy Toolkit: The AOA offers a comprehensive advocacy toolkit designed to make policy engagement accessible and includes talking points, sample letters to legislators, and summaries of current bills related to pediatric vision and myopia management. You can explore these resources at: AOA.org/Advocacy.
- Share your stories and local efforts: Advocacy begins with storytelling. Share examples of how early detection or myopia management has positively affected a child’s life, whether on social media, in local publications, or at professional meetings. Real-world success stories help others understand the importance of proactive pediatric eyecare.
- Collaborate with community partners: Work with pediatricians, pediatric ophthalmologists, school nurses, and local organizations to integrate comprehensive eyecare into wellness programs. By building these partnerships, optometrists can strengthen community awareness and ensure children receive timely eye exams and interventions.
A unified voice for children’s vision
Being a Change Agent with The Myopia Collective has reinforced a powerful truth: optometrists are uniquely positioned to safeguard children’s vision and to shape the systems that support it.
National advocacy builds on the important work we do every day in our practices. Later this month, The Myopia Collective will bring optometry’s voice to Capitol Hill, where Change Agents will share real-world patient insights and champion policy efforts such as the Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children (EDVI) Act—legislation designed to strengthen children’s eyecare nationwide.
At the same time, innovations like MiSight 1 day are making proactive myopia management a reality. As the only FDA-approved soft contact lens clinically proven to slow the progression of myopia in children, MiSight gives us an evidence-based treatment to protect children’s vision while enabling kids to thrive in school, sports, and daily life.4,5
By pairing advocacy with proven clinical solutions, we can ensure every child has the opportunity for optimal visual outcomes.
