Myopia Collective urges Congress to back nation’s first federally funded children’s vision health program

Since myopia was recognized as a disease in 2024, awareness of its implications and the need for early intervention has grown. The Myopia Collective, a joint effort between the AOA and CooperVision, took its efforts to Capitol Hill November 17-18, 2025. Five Change Agents advocated to raise awareness of myopia amongst lawmakers and rallied support for a bipartisan bill, H.R. 2527 - Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act of 2025 (EDVI), that will provide funding for state and community programs to support children’s vision and eye health. 

“Addressing the gap in vision care for our next generation requires all of us advocating and educating,” said AOA President Jacquie M. Bowen, O.D. “The Myopia Collective participants and their initiative are a key part of the solution. By connecting with legislators about the critical challenges myopia poses and the solutions doctors of optometry and our partners are at the ready to provide, we are making strong and lasting impact.” 

“We’re on the cusp of redefining children’s vision care in this country,” said Jennifer Palombi, O.D., director, professional education & development, Americas, CooperVision. “If passed, the EDVI Act will help build a future where early detection and intervention are the norm, not the exception. That’s the future The Myopia Collective is advocating for, and one that will change countless lives.” 

A national call to protect children’s vision 

If passed, the bill will be the first federally funded program to address children’s vision and eye health. Currently, recommendations for pre-elementary vision screenings vary by state, leaving many students with undetected myopia that can hamper their learning.  

In its current wording, the bill would provide funding for state and local programs to use at their discretion. This could mean the expansion of current programs or being the catalyst for introducing new eye exam programs in states where they aren’t required.  

Change Agents are leaders within The Myopia Collective who are committed to advancing awareness, advocacy and action around childhood myopia in their communities. Shane Foster, O.D., a Change Agent from Ohio, attended the meetings and said federal support will help level the learning field for all children. Because some states require eye exams before kindergarten or at regular intervals while others offer no guidance at all, he says creating and funding consistent, nationwide diagnostic protocols would be transformative.   

“I hope [the funding] will be used to enact uniform standards across the country,” Dr. Foster said. “Let's make sure every child in the U.S. has an equal opportunity for eye care and to have their vision disorders detected so they can read, learn, and succeed.” 

Lawmakers respond to growing need for pediatric eye health 

A recent precedent for a similar bill in 2022, focused on hearing loss, has been encouraging for Change Agents. “Children’s access to health care is something lawmakers know is important to their constituents,” said Caitlyn McHugh-Glab, O.D., a Change Agent from Illinois. “Lawmakers and the public may not realize how important children’s vision is. Children often don’t understand that they aren’t seeing well. We have to advocate for these children so they can have access to the care they need.”   

“In-school dental programs, such as dental sealant programs, are a proof of concept for how in-school health initiatives can help children succeed,” Dr. Foster said. “Dental care is looked at as a gold standard in childhood, yet vision care is often overlooked. For some reason, people don’t see the link between vision and learning, but if kids can’t see to read, they can’t move forward.”  

Early detection must become the standard of care 

The group came equipped with compelling evidence, underscoring the need for national action. Currently, one in five preschoolers and one in four school-age children require vision correction, and the scale of the issue is growing. Nearly half of North America’s population will be myopic by 2030, with onset typically occurring in early elementary years. Change Agents emphasized that without early detection and treatment, childhood myopia can progress into more serious, sight-threatening conditions. 

“The data is clear, and the opportunity is right in front of us,” said Dr. Palombi. “By supporting early detection nationwide, we can change a child’s entire trajectory, including how they learn, how they participate and how they see their future. There are very few interventions this simple that can make such a profound difference.”