In Focus: Influencing the conversation

A public-facing campaign was launched on August 25 in the UK to increase awareness of myopia and encourage parents to book an eye exam for their children.

The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) aimed to educate the public about the prevalence of myopia and related risks of eye health issues later in life.

Its Screen Staycation campaign coincided with the August bank holiday weekend and encouraged families to take a break from screen use.

Matt Oerding, UK campaign lead for GMAC, told Optician: ‘Our campaign is about public awareness and getting parents, healthcare providers, teachers, school nurses, or anybody who may be the first to spot myopia in a child, aware that there’s something they can do for these kids.’