Growing Vision Issue As Myopia Rates Rise in the U.S., Essilor of America Launches Initiative to Help Combat


  • Sep 20, 2018 Updated

13 hrs ago

DALLAS, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Myopia Is one of the most prevalent vision issues globally, especially in children. By 2050, it is estimated nearly five billion people will be myopic1 and in theU.S., 42 percent will be myopic by 2020 compared to just 28 percent in 2000.2Essilor, the leading manufacturer of optical lenses globally, recognizes that myopia is an urgent issue and the prevalence is increasing dramatically worldwide.


The Essilor Group has made a global commitment to address this growing issue, with Essilor of America taking a leadership role in addressing myopia in the U.S.through a new campaign targeted at consumers and the eyecare industry. The Integrated campaign will educate and drive awareness around the rise of myopia;including a movie trailer hitting theaters nationwide that urges parents to take a proactive role in their child's eye health and sight by visiting an eyecare professional for a comprehensive eye exam to identify myopia before it impacts their everyday life. A school vision screening or a brief examination by a pediatrician is not enough, as eye health problems in children may be missed.


"Essilor understands firsthand the alarming growth of myopia around the world, especially in East Asian countries where the rates have increased dramatically with more than 85 percent of the population between ages 15-25 being myopic.3 We're using our global insights to launch a campaign that proactively addresses the increasing growth of myopia in the U.S.,"said Dr. Millicent Knight, senior vice president of customer development,Essilor of America. "Many parents are unaware of the lifelong issues associated with myopia, which is why we are taking immediate action in the U.S. to educate consumers around myopia and ask parents to schedule an eye exam for their children."


Myopia, better known as nearsightedness, is a condition of the eye where close up objects appear clear but at a distance everything becomes blurry and out of focus. While being nearsighted may not sound serious, if untreated over time it can put the eyes at risk for serious vision-threatening conditions including retinal detachment,early cataract development, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

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