In line with its theme of raising myopia awareness—and in honor of September as Myopia Action Month—the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) has launched a toolkit for eyecare professionals (ECPs).
Let’s start with a GMAC rundown.
Since its launch 6 years ago, GMAC has served as an industry coalition of leading ophthalmic companies and eye health associations within the United States and the United Kingdom.
Its purpose: Raising public awareness of childhood myopia as a treatable disease.
- See here for a list of organizations and companies included in the coalition.
And how is it doing this?
Primarily, by partnering with professional associations to equip ECPs with tools and resources for educating pediatric patients and their parents on:
- Myopia
- Myopia’s impact on vision
- Importance of early and regular eye exams
Just how critical is the need for awareness of this disease?
While it’s no secret that myopia is on the rise across the globe—with an estimated 50% of the world’s population expected to have the disease by 2050—the rate of disease severity has also increased in recent years.
As for awareness: A 2019 GMAC survey found that just 26% of patients in the U.S. took their children to an optometrist in the last year—and an overwhelming majority (88%) indicated they believe that comprehensive eye exams aren’t necessary until a child is in school.
And that’s where the toolkit comes in?
Indeed. Pre-launched during this year’s Myopia Awareness Week in May, the GMAC Myopia Awareness Toolkit is equipped with "practical, ready-to-use materials designed to educate families and support clinical discussions.”
Specifically, the toolkit features 10 key resources—with more to follow, according to GMAC—for ECPs to utilize, all available for free download.
Talk resources.
From take-home brochures and guidebooks to infographics, informed consent checklists, and social media posts, these resources include (in their respective file formats):
- Myopia management at home (via PDF)
- Myopia risk assessment (via PDF and infographic)
- The benefits of outdoor play (via an infographic)
- Informed consent for myopia treatment (via a form)
- Why myopia management matters (via a brochure)
- Myopia awareness & treatment options (social media)
- Understanding myopia risk factors (social media)
- Monthly series on myopia awareness (social media)
- Myopia Awareness Week bundle (email & social media)
- Editable email templates (email)
That’s quite the lineup.
Indeed. Plus, the coalition has spent the last few months promoting its toolkit through social media channels, offering a glimpse into its resources and topics—and even releasing motivational videos featuring key messaging (such as why industry companies and associations should join their movement).
- The theme: A unified front promoting GMAC’s global myopia awareness advancements.
And take note: GMAC shared that it’s currently conducting a pilot approach of this social outreach to boost visibility and local usage of its resource tools by offering them as co-branded versions for select member associations (with plans to replicate and expand into other countries and languages in the future).