Safeguarding
Sight

Myopia is more than an epidemic. It’s a global crisis that many parents are not even aware of. Enter the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition—a diverse group of eye care companies, eye health associations, and providers locking arms to protect today’s youth from the short-term challenges and long-term effects of myopia.

“It is an honor to serve as the GMAC board chair on behalf of Johnson & Johnson Vision, and I look forward to working closely with these leading companies and organizations to bring more knowledge and awareness around the myopia epidemic,” said Lisa McAlister. “With rates on the rise and myopia predicted to impact 1 of 2 people by 2050, our work is more important now than ever, and this coalition is uniquely setup to help create a brighter future for the eyesight of our children.”

Lisa McAlister

Global Myopia lead,
Johnson & Johnson Vision

The GMAC Story

In late 2018, a number of companies and associations came together to partner globally to increase public awareness of childhood myopia, the risk of eye disease associated with myopia, and encourage consumers to ask their eye care professionals about treatment options for childhood myopia.

GMAC stands shoulder to shoulder with industry leaders and eye doctors to stop the myopia epidemic.

The GMAC Mission

The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) is a coalition of leading ophthalmic companies and eye health associations with a mission to increase public awareness about the growing prevalence and consequences of myopia, especially in children.
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GMAC develops messaging campaigns for the public and works with health care professionals and allied organizations to educate both parents and children to access early and regular eye exams and be more receptive to treatment recommendations from their eye care professionals.

Who Is GMAC?

Never before have so many leading eyecare organizations joined forces against the devastating consequences of myopia.

Meet the Individuals Committed to Myopia Awareness

The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition is led by a Board of Directors that guides our strategic direction and by member companies that help accomplish our shared mission.

Millicent Knight

EssilorLuxottica

Kovin Naidoo

OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation

Bill Scott

Jobson

Lisa McAlister

Johnson & Johnson

Layna Mendlinger

VTI

Sandra Block

World Council Of Optometry

Nick Parker

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness

Matt Geller

Eyes On Eyecare

Rajeev Garg

CooperVision

Significant Milestones

Since GMAC was formed in 2019, it has launched five successful consumer campaigns in the U.S. dedicated to raising awareness of myopia in children and motivating parents to ask about new treatment options.

January 2019

Forming Partnerships

We formed partnerships with allied health care professionals and other stakeholders in children’s eye health and vision—including pediatricians,
ophthalmologists, optometrists, and school nurses.

September 2021

Observing Trends

Two years later, we set out to assess the changes in awareness and existing perceptions around myopia and comprehensive eye exams since GMAC was formed. We conducted a survey of social listening and analysis of Google trends among 1.5K parents and found an increased awareness of myopia.

September 2019

Testing Messaging

We tested potential messaging with over 4K parents in the U.S. through a rigorous qualitative and quantitative research approach.

October 2021

Going Global

We put the “global” into our acronym and extended our reach across the pond in the UK in 2022 to understand baseline awareness of myopia, short-sightedness, and new treatment options. We leveraged those findings to inform the UK consumer campaign. We will continue to explore additional markets in 2022 and beyond.

GMAC Advisory Board

Valerie Kattouf

Chief, Lewenson Pediatric and Binocular Vision Service, Illinois Eye Institute

Donna Mazyck, MS, RN, NCSN, CAE, FNASN

Executive Director, National Association of School Nurses

Kristan Gross

Global Head, Knowledge: Advocacy & Partnerships, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation

Stephen J. Smith, MD

Vitreoretinal Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Byers Eye Institute

Maria Liu, OD, PhD, MPH, MBA

Associate Professor of Clinical Optometry, UCBSO, Founder & Chief, Myopia Control Clinic UC Berkeley Eye Center

Ken Nischal

MD, FAACP, FRCOphth, Division Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Natasha L. Burgert, MD, FAAP

Pediatric Associates

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