September 3, 2020—CooperVision, a global leader in myopia management, today announced popular U.S. television actress, producer, and entrepreneur Sarah Michelle Gellar as the spokesperson for its Brilliant Futures™ Myopia Management Program. Brilliant Futures is built around MiSight® 1 day, the first and only soft contact lens FDA-approved to slow the progression of myopia in children ages 8-12 at the initiation of treatment.
More than 40% of Americans have myopia, commonly referred to as nearsightedness, and that number is increasing at an alarming rate, especially among school-aged children.
“My husband and I are both nearsighted—and our myopia has continued to worsen over time,” says Gellar. “We want our kids to have a chance for better vision and lower their risk for future eye health issues. While regular eyeglasses or contacts help children see a whiteboard or tennis ball today, MiSight 1 day lenses offer children the benefits of clear vision while slowing myopia progression during their growing years. That is why I am thrilled to be partnering with CooperVision on this campaign.”
Two-thirds of eye care professionals in the United States say the incidence of myopia among children in their practices has increased over the past 5-10 years and 81% of those practitioners recognize it as one of the biggest problems impacting children’s eyesight today. The effects of myopia go beyond the inability to see objects clearly at a distance; worsening myopia may contribute to more severe eye health complications and sight-threatening conditions later in life.
“CooperVision received FDA-approval of the MiSight® 1 day contact lens on Nov. 15, 2019, making the United States our 18th market worldwide. This reinforced CooperVision as a leader in the myopia management category,” said Daniel G. McBride, President of CooperVision. “In this particular moment in time, with so many children learning virtually and spending less time outdoors, the topic of myopia management is more relevant than ever before. As category creators and leaders in the myopia management sector, we believe it is our responsibility and privilege, alongside the optometric community, to educate parents and offer them tools to help their children who may be struggling with myopia. Our decision to make this sizable investment in educating parents is consistent with our view that addressing myopia early is vitally important.”
This new, multichannel direct-to-consumer advertising campaign featuring Gellar will highlight the importance of annual comprehensive eye exams in monitoring the progression of myopia in children. The campaign will include national and regional broadcast segments, content across digital and social media, and influencers who will be sharing their personal experiences with myopia.
In addition, CooperVision will be collaborating with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) to engage in meaningful unbranded conversations about myopia with the organization’s members. While the NASN does not endorse products, school nurses are often the first to observe the signs of myopia in affected children and are therefore important myopia management advocates.