The Myopia Collective is urging lawmakers to support the Early Detection of Vision Impairments (EDVI) for Children Act of 2025 (H.R. 2527), which would establish the nation’s first federally funded program dedicated to children’s vision and eye health. Five members of the Myopia Collective, a partnership between the American Optometric Association (AOA) and CooperVision, recently met with legislators in Washington, D.C., to press them to pass the bipartisan act.
About the Bill
If enacted, H.R. 2527 would fund state and community programs focused on early detection and intervention for children’s vision problems. Currently, recommendations for pre-elementary vision screenings vary by state. The funding provided by this bill could mean the expansion of current state and local programs or the introduction new eye exam programs in states where they are not required.
AOA President Jacquie Bowen, OD, emphasized that closing gaps in children’s vision care requires a coordinated effort. “Addressing the gap in vision care for our next generation requires all of us advocating and educating. The Myopia Collective participants and their initiatives are a key part of the solution. By connecting with legislators about the critical challenges myopia poses and the solutions doctors of optometry and our partners are at the ready to provide, we are making strong and lasting impact.”
Why Early Detection Matters
Advocates for the bill pointed to the rise in childhood myopia. They highlighted that one in five preschoolers and one in four school-age children need vision correction. These numbers are expected to continue to grow alongside increased screen-based learning. Nearly half of North America’s population is projected to be myopic by 2030, with onset typically occurring in early elementary years.
Addressing Uneven Access and Standards
Change Agents within The Myopia Collective, including Shane Foster, OD, argued that federal dollars could help create uniform, nationwide diagnostic protocols across the country. “Let’s make sure every child in the U.S. has an equal opportunity for eye care and to have their vision disorders detected so they can read, learn, and succeed.”
Change Agents also noted examples of other such successful initiatives, including in-school dental programs as well as a 2022 bill focused on hearing loss.