The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) is kicking off September as Myopia Action Month by appointing new members to its 2026-2027 Advisory Panel.
First, a refresh on GMAC.
It’s been a minute since our last coverage on the industry coalition.
Formed in 2019, GMAC is composed of leading ophthalmic companies and eye health associations within the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Check out the growing list of organizations and companies included in the coalition.
Its focus: raising public and parental awareness of childhood myopia as a treatable disease.
And its leadership?
The coalition is led by a Board of Directors, with 2026-2027 Chair Meredieth Bishop, OD, MS, FAAO (appointed earlier this year) currently at the helm.
- Dr. Bishop’s credentials include serving as Director of Global Medical Education, Vision at Johnson & Johnson.
… how about this new advisory panel?
The seven-member panel includes international experts in myopia research, clinical practice, professional education, and public health.
Their purpose: to offer guidance on evidence-based initiatives and support GMAC’ s mission in raising global awareness of childhood myopia.
- And as Dr. Bishop noted, the panel’s contributions “will help GMAC reach more families with clear, accessible information about childhood myopia, the importance of regular eye examinations and the value of early, informed action.”
Let’s get a look at these experts.
First up is Olga Prenat, who serves as the chair of the GMAC Advisory Panel Committee—and is also a GMAC Board member.
The France-based global head of Medical and Professional Affairs at EssilorLuxottica is joined by experts representing six different countries:
- Annegret Dahlmann-Noor, Dr Med, PhD, FRCOphth, FRCS(Ed), DipMedEd
- Country: United Kingdom
- Professor of Paediatric Ophthalmology, University College London
- Elena García Rubio, OD, MSc, FBCLA
- Country: Spain
- Co-founder of National Institute of Vision
- Co-founder of visual health program of Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes (SOLCIOE) in Spain
- Chief clinical officer at Promethei
- International Myopia Institute (IMI) ambassador
- Ian Flitcroft, MA, MBBS, DPhil
- Country: Ireland
- Consultant ophthalmologist, Mater Misericordiae Hospital
- Adjunct professor of VisionScience, Technological University Dublin
- Co-Founder, Ocumetra
- Kate Gifford, PhD, BAppSc (Optom) Hons, GCOT, FBCLA, FIACLE, FCCLSA, FAAO
- Country: Australia
- Optometrist, clinician-scientist and co-founder and director of Myopia Profile
- Li-Lian Foo, MD, FRCOphth, MMed (Ophth), GDFM, BEng (First Class Honours)
- Country: Singapore
- President, Myopia Society of Singapore
- Clinical director, Myopia Service, and consultant ophthalmologist, Singapore National Eye Centre
- Clinical assistant professor, Duke-NUS Medical School
- Thomas Aller, OD, FBCLA
- Country: United States
- Myopia researcher, inventor, and clinical optometrist
So! What does action look like at GMAC?
The coalition has established partnerships with professional associations to equip ECPs with tools and resources for educating pediatric patients and their parents on myopia and its impact on vision—as well as the importance of early and regular eye exams.
For parents: See here for a myopia management discussion guide and a few FAQs.
Also click here for a look at GMAC’s education, awareness, and advocacy initiatives over the last 6 years (including a few we’ve reported on).
And for ECPs?
Those aforementioned tools and resources are available via a Myopia Awareness Toolkit.
Included in this: take-home brochures and guidebooks, infographics, informed consent checklists, and social media posts for eyecare practices.
Editor’s note: Check out the latest developments in the myopia space.