Essilor Stellest spectacle lenses slow myopia progression 57% over 6 years in study
Key takeaways:
- Participants who wore the lenses had an average of 1.95 D less myopia progression and 0.81 mm less axial elongation.
- The lenses are not approved by the FDA but are available in more than 45 countries.
New long-term data on Essilor Stellest spectacle lenses show efficacy in slowing myopia progression for up to 6 years in Chinese participants, including into young adulthood, according to EssilorLuxottica.
At 6 years, the lenses slowed myopia progression by an average of 57%, corresponding to 1.95 D (Smotherman et al.), and slowed axial elongation by an average of 52%, corresponding to 0.81 mm (Shamp et al.). Participants were compared with a single vision lens control group extrapolated from the first 2 years of the trial.
By the end of 6 years, patients in the study were aged 14 to 19 years, according to EssilorLuxottica.
“These results underscore the significant and sustained impact of Essilor Stellest lenses in controlling myopia progression, offering valuable insights into strategies for addressing the global myopia epidemic,” EssilorLuxottica said in a statement to Healio.
The data were presented earlier this month at the Congress of Ophthalmology and Optometry China. A seventh year of the study is expected to yield further long-term data.
“The strong response at COOC 2025 highlights the widespread adoption of Essilor Stellest lenses as a trusted, proven tool for [eye care professionals] in China and worldwide, supporting long-term myopia management,” Olga Prenat, head of medical and professional affairs at EssilorLuxottica, said in the release.
The FDA has not yet approved any spectacle lenses for myopia control. The agency has granted breakthrough device designation to Essilor Stellest lenses and SightGlass Vision’s (CooperVision) lenses with diffusion optics technology.
The Essilor Stellest lens consists of a single vision zone carrying the wearer’s prescription along with a myopia progression control zone, the company told Healio. The latter zone works using highly aspherical lenslet target, or HALT, technology, which “creates a volume of non-focused light in front of the retina and following its shape,” slowing elongation of the eye and resulting myopia.
Recently published data (Li et al.) also showed that, at 5 years, 38% of the extrapolated single vision lens control group had myopia of –6 D or worse vs. 9% of those wearing Essilor Stellest lenses.
Another recent study (Huang et al.) demonstrated that wearing or switching to the lenses “not only slows central and temporal elongation of the eye but also positively affects peripheral eye length and refraction,” study co-author Björn Drobe, PhD, director, applied myopia research at EssilorLuxottica, said in the release.
“This, combined with our 6-year clinical data and other recent studies, marks a significant step forward in understanding the full scope of how Essilor Stellest lenses manage myopia progression, further confirming their long-term efficacy,” Drobe said.
References:
- Essilor Stellest spectacle lens receives FDA “breakthrough device” designation. https://myopiainstitute.org/essilor-stellest-spectacle-lens-receives-fda-breakthrough-device-designation/. Published May 18, 2021. Accessed April 29, 2025.
- Huang Y, et al. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2025;doi:10.1111/opo.13500.
- Li X, et al. Eye Vis (Lond). 2025;doi:10.1186/s40662-025-00427-3.
- Shamp W, et al. E-Abstract A0111. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting; May 1-4, 2022; Denver.
- Smotherman C, et al. E-Abstract 811. Presented at: ARVO Annual Meeting; April 23-27, 2023; New Orleans.
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