The Myopia Collective (TMC) selected a new cohort of optometrist (OD) Change Agents this week as part of the national initiative’s continued expansion in targeting myopia management care among pediatric patients.
And for the first time: The program also welcomed Student Change Agents from across the United States to join its advocacy efforts.
The announcements came as TMC hosted its first-ever Day of Advocacy during the 2026 American Optometric Association (AOA) annual Optometry Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.
Big news! But before we talk updates, let’s get reacquainted with this initiative.
What it is: A nationwide partnership dedicated to encouraging ODs and their industry allies to shift the current status quo of pediatric myopia care from correction and management to comprehensive treatment.
- Notably: The program was first launched in April 2024 as a collaboration between the AOA and CooperVision—and has since grown to over 3.5K members.
- Check out our coverage (and interview) with its leaders.
- Also see here for a look at the current state of myopia care (and the reason behind the initiative’s launch in the first place).
Now tell me more about these Change Agents.
These applicant-selected positions—a driving force behind TMC—are state-level ambassador roles reserved for ODs from across the country (including the District of Columbia) interested in leading the myopia control initiative.
In addition to receiving specialized training in myopia management, agents’ responsibilities include:
- Leading local/regional myopia control efforts for patients across the country
- Advocating for long-term, myopia-control-based community and policy changes
Click here for more insights. We also previously reported on TVC’s inaugural cohort of 60+ Change Agents (take note: the current number now stands at over 70).
So can any OD join TMC, or do they have to be selected?
Change Agents are just one piece of the initiative—all within the optometric profession are welcome to join, regardless of their credentials or role.
To become a member: Simply click here. Among the benefits that come with membership: access to initiative updates, resources, and educational opportunities to support the fight against myopia.
Nice! Now, what do we know about this year’s Change Agent update?
Joining TMC’s established cohort are 22 new Change Agents selected from 15 states: Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington.
See here for the complete list of 2026-2027 agents.
And these new Student Change Agents?
A total of 19 agents were selected—with each “rising fourth-year leader” representing one of the nation's 24 optometry schools.
- Specifically: These are optometry students with a passion for myopia management and an interest in taking on leadership roles within their schools.
The selection process mirrored that used for Change Agents: an application consisting of questions regarding their confidence in treating myopia, identification of significant myopia control barriers, and inspiration behind their desire to be an agent.
… so who was selected?
Check out all members (and their affiliated schools) of the inaugural Student Change Agent cohort.
And what will their responsibilities look like?
These Student Change Agents will receive similar foundational training that Change Agents receive—centering on advocacy, communications, and leadership—but with a focus on engaging fellow students and helping build awareness among the next genreation of ECPs.
Talk more about this training.
The AOA previously shared that all new Change Agents (students included) will participate in an upcoming dedicated training workshop in Houston, Texas, this November.
The focus: novel and practice guidance on improving myopia management adoption in clinical practice—all while simultaneously collaborating to further advance pediatric eye health.
Lastly: Circle back to that Day of Advocacy mentioned earlier.
Held on June 18, TMC hosted a global, social media-based initiative to increase awareness of childhood myopia—as well as the critical need for early intervention.
At the core of this: Participants were encouraged to share personal stories, clinical insights, and educational perspective via #MyopiaAdvocacy2026.