CooperVision has expanded its efforts to raise public awareness of childhood myopia with a nationwide media tour. The tour is part of an ongoing direct-to-consumer initiative that is aimed at educating families about the increasing prevalence and risks of the condition. The initiative comes as projections estimate that nearly half of North America’s population will be affected by myopia by 2030, the company noted in a press release.

On July 24, CooperVision conducted 33 media interviews, including 26 television and 7 radio segments, in San Francisco, New York, Washington, D.C., and other major cities. Felicia Timmermann, OD, MS, FAAO, Senior Manager of Myopia Management at CooperVision, served as the spokesperson in both live and recorded interviews.

Dr. Timmermann explained that modern lifestyle factors—particularly increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity—are accelerating the progression of myopia in children. She emphasized the value of early intervention and parental action to mitigate these risks; specifically, combining clinical solutions (eg, contact lenses) with behavioral changes, such as encouraging more time outdoors, to reduce the risk of long-term ocular complications.