Global Myopia Awareness Coalition

What Global Myopia Awareness Coalition does

Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) is a US-based non-profit coalition founded in late 2018 and formally launched in January 2019 to raise public awareness of childhood myopia as a treatable disease. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri with 11-50 employees, GMAC is governed by a board chaired by Meredith Bishop of Johnson & Johnson Vision and comprises leading ophthalmic companies (EssilorLuxottica, Johnson & Johnson, CooperVision, Santen), vision insurers (UnitedHealthcare Vision), and roughly twenty national and international professional eye health associations spanning North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Its core offerings are free consumer awareness campaigns (Vision Mission, Game On: Battling Myopia, Screen Staycation, Sight Sanctuary, Little Kid License), downloadable resources (Eye Doctor Discussion Guide, Eye Health In-Sights Infographic), and a Myopia Awareness Toolkit for eye care professionals.

The underlying technology is content, campaign production, and distribution infrastructure rather than a software product. GMAC reaches parents and caregivers through paid media, influencer partnerships (parent and gaming influencers), and social channels, and reaches eye care professionals via member associations and its website. Operational scale signals include 800M+ consumer outreach impressions and 2.2M+ influencer video views since 2019, plus six annual consumer campaigns through 2023 and a 2024 toolkit rollout.

The business model is non-profit, funded primarily through membership dues from a concentrated group of industry partners and vision care associations. All educational resources, toolkits, and campaign content are distributed free of charge to parents, ECPs, and associations. The go-to-market is community-led: GMAC leverages professional association members, eye care professionals, pediatricians, educators, and influencers to disseminate evidence-based awareness content, with strategic emphasis in 2024-2025 on toolkit distribution through associations to scale global reach.

Name

Global Myopia Awareness Coalition

Legal name

Global Myopia Awareness Coalition

Website

https://myopiaawareness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Global Myopia Awareness Coalition is a US-based non-profit coalition founded in 2019 that unites ophthalmic companies and eye care associations to raise public awareness of childhood myopia through free educational campaigns, toolkits, and resources for parents and eye care professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Awareness

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Myopia awareness coalition
• Childhood eye health education
• Ophthalmic industry collaboration
• Eye care professional resources
• Myopia prevention education

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Industry companies and professional associations join GMAC as members, likely contributing dues to support the coalition's awareness initiatives and campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) is a nonprofit coalition of leading ophthalmic companies and eye health associations that produces and distributes public-awareness campaigns, educational toolkits, and practice resources aimed at increasing understanding of childhood myopia as a treatable disease. It partners with professional associations, eye care professionals, pediatricians, parents, and educators to deliver free awareness content and toolkits about myopia prevalence, risks, and treatment options.

Product overview

The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition offers an educational awareness platform focused on childhood myopia prevention and management. The core offering consists of consumer awareness campaigns (Vision Mission, Game On: Battling Myopia, Screen Staycation, Sight Sanctuary, Little Kid License) paired with practical tools including the free Myopia Awareness Toolkit containing brochures, guidebooks, infographics, and social media posts. Supporting resources include the Eye Doctor Discussion Guide and Eye Health In-"Sights" Infographic for parents, alongside professional education materials for eyecare professionals. The organization operates as a coalition model rather than a software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Myopia Awareness Toolkit Free downloadable resource package providing educational materials including take-home brochures, guidebooks, infographics, informed consent checklists, and social media posts for eyecare practices to educate parents about childhood myopia.
• Eye Doctor Discussion Guide Downloadable guide helping parents understand what questions to ask their child's eye doctor about myopia management and treatment options.
• Eye Health In-Sights Infographic Educational infographic covering important eye health milestones and new myopia treatment options for children.
• Consumer Awareness Campaigns Ongoing public education campaigns including Screen Staycation, Sight Sanctuary, Little Kid License, and Vision Mission designed to raise awareness about myopia in children and encourage parents to seek treatment.
• Professional Education Resources Resources and materials for eyecare professionals to educate parents about myopia management, including content for practice use and patient education.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% of world population may have myopia by 2050 without action
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EssilorLuxotticacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading ophthalmic company and member of GMAC coalition. Contributes to awareness initiatives and supports global myopia education efforts.
• Johnson & JohnsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision division contributes to GMAC leadership through board chair position. Supports coalition initiatives with global medical education expertise.
• SantencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPharmaceutical company focused on eye care, contributing to GMAC's global coalition efforts through member company representation.
• CooperVisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContact lens manufacturer providing board representation and supporting myopia awareness campaigns through GMAC membership.
• BHVI (Brien Holden Vision Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute contributing scientific expertise to GMAC's evidence-based awareness initiatives.
• IAPB (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal eye health organization partnering with GMAC to advance childhood myopia awareness internationally.
• World Council of OptometrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal optometry organization providing professional leadership and supporting GMAC initiatives through member outreach.
• International Myopia InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute contributing scientific expertise on myopia to support GMAC's educational initiatives.
• American Academy of OptometrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association providing clinical expertise and supporting myopia education through GMAC membership.
• Optometry AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational optometry organization representing Australian eye care professionals in GMAC coalition.
• Canadian Association of OptometristscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational optometry organization representing Canadian eye care professionals. CEO François Couillard serves on GMAC board.
• UnitedHealthcare VisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision insurance provider contributing to GMAC through board representation (VP Roni Kennison).
• Review of Myopia ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry publication providing media coverage and marketing support for myopia awareness initiatives.
• Onesight EssilorLuxottica FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit foundation providing vision care access, aligned with GMAC's mission to protect children's vision.
• WSPOS (World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational professional society contributing pediatric ophthalmology expertise to GMAC initiatives.
• Clinical & Refractive OptometryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCE journal for optometry providing professional education content support.
• BCLA (British Contact Lens Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based professional organization contributing contact lens expertise to myopia management education.
• NZAO (New Zealand Association of Optometrists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational optometry organization representing New Zealand practitioners in GMAC coalition.
• NCRC (National Center for Children's Vision Equity)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization focused on children's vision health equity, contributing to GMAC's mission.
• SOA (Singapore Optometric Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational optometry organization from Singapore contributing to GMAC's international reach.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI): Global research and public health nonprofit dedicated to eye care and myopia; directly comparable mission around childhood myopia — GMAC lists BHVI as a core scientific partner.
• International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB): Global alliance of over 150 organizations working to eliminate avoidable blindness; an established and direct peer to GMAC's global coalition model for eye health awareness (GMAC is itself an IAPB partner).
• Prevent Blindness: U.S. nonprofit coalition dedicated to preventing blindness and preserving sight through public/patient education, professional training, and advocacy — directly comparable mission and coalition-based model to GMAC for vision health awareness.
• World Council of Optometry (WCO): International optometry body representing the profession globally and advancing eye care standards; directly comparable optometric coalition engaged in awareness and education (a GMAC partner).
• Sightsavers: International nonprofit working to eliminate avoidable blindness and support people with visual impairments; comparable global eye-health awareness and advocacy coalition model.
• Orbis International: Global nonprofit focused on preventing avoidable blindness through education, training, and advocacy; comparable nonprofit coalition model with global eye-health awareness remit.
• International Myopia Institute (IMI): Scientific organization publishing evidence-based myopia reports and clinical guidelines; directly comparable in mission around myopia awareness, but research-focused rather than consumer-activation-focused (a current GMAC partner).
• OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation: Industry-backed nonprofit foundation providing vision care access globally; highly comparable coalition/foundation model funded by ophthalmic industry players (and a current GMAC partner).

Emerging players

• Healthy Eyes Alliance: U.S. nonprofit coalition advancing eye health through awareness, education, and advocacy; a closely analogous industry-aligned vision awareness coalition, though smaller in scope than GMAC.

Broad incumbents

• Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF): Large global service organization with major vision programs (e.g., SightFirst); a broader incumbent in vision-related awareness, fundraising, and screening compared to GMAC's narrower myopia focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Global Myopia Awareness Coalition