December 10, 2020
The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) has launched its website here. The new GMAC website features the tabs “about myopia,” “Who is GMAC,” and “FAQ.” The page was created to provide parents with information about childhood myopia’s risks and treatment options.
Formed in early 2019, GMAC “is composed of leading ophthalmic companies and eye health associations that agree on a clear need for greater public awareness about childhood myopia,” as described in the “About” section of the new website.
Focused on increasing consumer awareness of childhood myopia, GMAC serves as an advisory board under the World Council of Optometry (WCO). The website also includes information for those companies and organizations interested in joining GMAC. It is housed on the consumer-facing All About Vision website.
Following its founding in 2019, GMAC has achieved many accomplishments this year. The organization worked with influential parents and online gamers with thousands of followers to say #GameOverMyopia by taking breaks from screen time and getting outside. It surveyed thousands of parents on their family’s screen time use before and after the coronavirus pandemic, finding that since the COVID-19 outbreak, 44 percent of parents surveyed say their children are spending four or more hours per day on electronic devices. In addition, GMAC has also formed an advisory panel of experts across pediatric optometry, school nursing, and ophthalmology.
