(PRESS RELEASE) ROCHESTER, N.Y. — CooperVision’s Generation Sight initiative continues to grow and make an impact, bridging disparities in myopia management access among under-resourced children in the U.S. In its first year, the program has delivered life-changing care to children in Boston and Chicago, with recent expansion into additional community health centers throughout the greater Boston area and into Rhode Island. Participating centers delivering this standard of care now include Charles River Community Health, The Dimock Center, DotHouse Health, Lynn Community Health Center, Providence Community Health Centers, and South Boston Community Health Center.
“The expansion of Generation Sight is twofold: it brings much-needed myopia treatment to children who might not otherwise have access, and it offers students and residents invaluable real-world experience with contact lenses,” said Michele Andrews, OD, Vice President, Marketing and Professional Affairs, Americas, CooperVision. “This experience, which includes hands-on training, helps them prepare to meet the needs of a broader range of patients after graduation.”
Generation Sight was developed in partnership with the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO), Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), and New England College of Optometry (NECO). The program connects families who may not otherwise receive myopia care with treatment through collaborations involving optometry school faculty, residents, and students. These professionals help identify and serve children in need while engaging multidisciplinary community partners to extend the program’s reach.
The initiative offers MiSight 1 day soft contact lenses for age-appropriate children and Paragon CRT orthokeratology† lenses at no cost for as long as participating patients require treatment for their myopia. The momentum in this program comes at a time when myopia is on the rise globally. Currently affecting 2.6 billion people worldwide, it is estimated that nearly 5 billion people, or half of the world population, will have myopia by 2050.
“Programs like Generation Sight are vital in addressing this growing public health concern, particularly in communities where access to eye care is limited. By combining clinical innovation, academic partnerships, and community outreach, CooperVision is creating a scalable model for improving children’s eye health nationwide,” said Dr. Andrews.
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