The Myopia Collective has added 22 new Change Agents and introduced its first Student Change Agent cohort, a 49% expansion of the initiative’s advocate network.
Founded by CooperVision and the American Optometric Association (AOA), The Myopia Collective was created to help advance childhood myopia management into the standard of care. The expanded network includes both established leaders and emerging advocates who will support education, engagement, and adoption across the eye care community.
Find a list of The Myopia Collective Change Agents on the AOA website.
Voices for Advocacy
“We received an overwhelming level of interest from doctors and students eager to participate this year, and we are grateful to all who applied,” says AOA President Dr. Jacquie M. Bowen, who is encouraging others to become members of The Myopia Collective.
Members receive updates and gain access to free educational opportunities, information, and resources to help the fight against childhood myopia, she says.
Training Workshop Planned
Change Agents will participate in a dedicated training workshop this November in Houston. According to The Myopia Collective, the workshop will provide practical insights designed to help participants strengthen myopia management adoption in their practices while collaborating with peers on efforts to advance children’s eye health.
Day of Advocacy
Also, the Myopia Collective will host its first Day of Advocacy on June 18. The global, social media-driven initiative is designed to raise awareness of childhood myopia and the importance of early intervention. On the Day of Advocacy, The Myopia Collective is encouraging Change Agents, Student Change Agents, partners, and other advocates to share personal stories, clinical insights, and educational perspectives using the hashtag #MyopiaAdvocacy2026.
“The Day of Advocacy is a powerful opportunity to elevate and unite voices across the optometric community and beyond,” said Dr. Jennifer Palombi, director, professional affairs, Americas, CooperVision. “By sharing personal experiences, clinical insights, and their passion for patient care, our community will ignite meaningful dialogue around myopia and inspire a greater understanding of its long-term impact. Together, we will reinforce the importance of early intervention and help build a future where protecting children’s vision is a shared priority across the profession and communities we serve.”