There is a rapid rise in global myopia—now affecting roughly 30% of the world’s population and projected to reach 50% by 2050.1 In 2010, approximately 1.9 billion people—27% worldwide—were myopic, including 70 million individuals (2.8%) with high myopia. By 2050, these figures are expected to increase to 52% and 10%, respectively.2,3
These alarming statistics make early detection and proactive management more critical than ever. Doing so not only optimizes visual performance during the formative years but also reduces the likelihood of children entering adulthood with higher, more dangerous levels of myopia.
This is essential because high myopia significantly increases the risk of sight-threatening complications, including:4
- Cataracts
- Progressive maculopathy
- Choroidal neovascularization
- Peripheral retinal degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Glaucoma
Even systemic effects such as anxiety are emerging as associated comorbidities.4 Pediatric eyecare remains underemphasized in both clinical and public health arenas, despite its direct impact on learning, development, and day-to-day functioning.5 However, Change Agents from The Myopia Collective are working to remedy this problem.
Change Agents to the rescue
The Myopia Collective—a partnership between the American Optometric Association (AOA) and CooperVision—is mobilizing eyecare professionals, researchers, and advocates to transition childhood myopia care from simple refractive correction to proactive, evidence-based management.
Central to this effort are the Collective’s Change Agents, optometrists representing every US state and the District of Columbia, who are equipped with specialized training, tools, and resources to elevate myopia control within their practices and communities.6
This advocacy recently reached Capitol Hill, where five Change Agents met with lawmakers to support the Early Detection of Vision Impairments (EDVI) for Children Act of 2025 (HR 2527)—the first proposed federally funded program dedicated to children’s vision and eye health.7
The bill aims to address the inconsistent state-level screening requirements by providing funding for state and local initiatives to expand or establish early detection programs to increase access to eyecare for children, particularly in rural and underserved populations.7,8
The Myopia Collective aims to ensure that early detection and comprehensive myopia management become the universal standard. We spoke with four Myopia Collective Change Agents to get first-person accounts of their advocacy efforts and time at the Capitol.
What compelled you to become involved in advocacy?
The realization that our profession is a legislative profession. What we can and cannot do is bound by the laws that are created at the state and federal levels. Laws will also help protect my patients, so I appreciate advocating for them as well.
Tell us about your involvement in The Myopia Collective as a Change Agent.
My involvement in The Myopia Collective as a Change Agent has been so rewarding. It has made me a point person for my colleagues to ask questions when it comes to myopia control.
I have also gotten to speak on a local news station about myopia and children's vision, which has given me a platform to inform others about myopia and when to start bringing their children in for eye exams. Of course, it has also allowed me to be a part of an incredible advocacy team in DC!
What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy efforts?
My advice is to just do it! When it comes to advocacy, there is significant power in numbers. Don't be afraid to ask questions to those who've gone before you, and know that even if you don't feel well-versed enough on the political side, you hopefully feel passionate enough about eyecare to speak on the issue that the bill will address.
What role do you think optometrists should play in shaping national healthcare policy?
The role of optometrists starts with grassroots and PAC donations. Talking to legislators can be intimidating, but at the end of the day, they are representing the people, so they want to know what the people want.
We as optometrists simply need to be in communication with our representatives and offer to be their go-to expert on eyecare-related issues. We also need to be regularly contributing to state and federal-level optometric association PACs.
When did you first become involved in advocacy efforts?
I became involved in advocacy while I was a student at the Illinois College of Optometry. I attended my state association annual meetings and became a student tour guide for legislators visiting the college. I was lucky to be able to attend multiple AOA on Capitol Hill meetings, providing an early look at how important advocacy is to optometry.
Where do you feel like we could really improve in pediatric eye health overall and myopia?
By increasing awareness of the timing of exams. Many parents are not aware that it is recommended for their children to have a comprehensive eye exam between 6 to 12 months, between 3-5 years, and yearly while in school. Luckily, in Illinois, we have a state law that requires all students to get an eye exam before kindergarten.
But, during that exam, many parents say, “I wish I knew, I could have brought them in sooner.” I think getting the word out more to parents and even pediatricians about the importance of early comprehensive eye examinations would make a big impact in pediatric eye health and
myopia.
myopia.
How can optometrists keep the momentum going once they return home?
Always follow-up with your legislators with a quick email to answer any questions and to thank them for their time. I also recommend inviting your legislators to your office to demonstrate what optometrists do on a day-to-day basis.
But also, just talk to your colleagues and stay informed. Visit the AOA Action Center, which offers advice on advocacy and provides the information needed to easily contact your legislators. Urge your colleagues to take a few minutes to ask their legislators to sign onto these important topics.
What are the most rewarding aspects of being a Change Agent?
Being able to meet and collaborate with Change Agents from across the country has been invaluable. I have been able to make connections and pursue opportunities that would not have been possible without this group. My role as a Change Agent has provided me the tools to increase awareness of myopia and the importance of children’s vision in my practice, my community, and beyond. I look forward to what we will all continue to accomplish!
Tell us about your involvement in The Myopia Collective as a Change Agent.
I have always been a passionate advocate for children’s vision issues, so being named a Myopia Collective Change Agent was a true honor. We have been able to gain so much publicity and momentum around access to pediatric eyecare in Ohio, and I would love to see that type of philosophy spread across all 50 states.
And, while The Myopia Collective was created by the AOA and CooperVision to spread the importance of myopia management in children, it has also heavily focused on access to pediatric eyecare.
What do you feel were the most important eyecare topics discussed on Capitol Hill?
The great thing about this Capitol Hill visit was we had one thing to discuss—children’s vision. Our main focus was educating staffers about and garnering support for HR 2527, the EDVI Act, to fund and foster access to pediatric eyecare.
In discussing this legislation, Change Agents were also able to discuss advancements in myopia management, the issues with access to care, and the relationship between vision and learning. All the offices were very receptive to these conversations, because it is one of those issues that politicians from both sides of the aisle can rally around.
What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in advocacy efforts?
First, if you are not a member of the AOA and your state affiliate, please join! The work that our associations put forth for us and our patients every day is almost unimaginable.
Secondly, connect with your state association to find out how you can help. Most affiliates have a “keyperson” network, where they try to match every legislator with an optometrist in their district. Many times, you may have a personal connection with that legislator (some of them may even be your patients!), and that can make all the difference in reaching them to discuss our important issues.
Lastly, for some, meeting with elected officials can seem intimidating or daunting. You have to remember that they are just regular people—farmers, insurance agents, lawyers—and very few of them have any intimate understanding of optometry or even healthcare in general. You want to position yourself to be their policy expert when it comes to matters of eyecare.
What role do you think optometrists should play in shaping national healthcare policy?
Optometrists are an essential part of the healthcare delivery network, so we should always have a seat at the table when there are discussions about healthcare policy. The AOA and our lobbying team have a stellar reputation on Capitol Hill, and they continually fight for our recognition as an equal healthcare provider.
What compelled you to become involved in advocacy?
I opened my practice in my hometown with the goal of providing my community with world-class eyecare, because everyone deserves to be informed about the latest developments that will help them see better.
In order for me to improve this access, I need my representatives to know about the good work that we all do daily, which is what got me so excited to participate in this event, to be that voice for my patients.
Tell us about your involvement in The Myopia Collective as a Change Agent.
When I first heard of The Myopia Collective, I knew that I wanted to be able to provide myopia management options to my patients, but I didn't necessarily know how to go about it. I knew that it would help so many families in my community, which drove me to apply to become a Change Agent.
I had the passion, and surrounding myself with like-minded people allowed me to grow both my practice and my abilities as a clinician. And it's that growth that has been so surprising since I became my own change agent and continued to push the envelope and move the industry forward by taking different approaches to myopia management that would work with my patient demographic.
What improvements would you like to see in the realm of pediatric eye health and myopia?
More general public knowledge about the importance of prevention, early detection, and treatment in eye health for kids. So many parents are surprised at the amount of information that I am able to obtain from a child who has just begun to talk, not to mention younger.
I would also love more pediatricians to have closer relationships with local optometrists and to know more about the specialties within our profession, like specialty contact lenses, myopia management, and vision therapy, and to have a trusted referral source because our patients have such close relationships with their pediatricians.
Conclusion
By prioritizing early detection and evidence-based myopia control strategies, optometrists can meaningfully improve patients’ current quality of life while preventing the cascade of ocular and systemic complications that accompany advanced myopia later in life.
The Myopia Collective Change Agents highlight the essential role optometrists play in advancing early detection, evidence-based management, and equitable access to care. By uniting clinical expertise with legislative action, our profession is helping comprehensive pediatric eyecare to become a national public health priority.
