Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a significant health issue impacting adults and children worldwide. Corrective lenses can help make it easier to live with, but stronger prescriptions are needed to keep up with the often degenerative condition.
EssilorLuxottica, an ophthalmic lens and eyeglass frame manufacturer, is advancing a potential solution for myopia, which it predicts will affect 740 million children worldwide by 2025. The company said the FDA has granted market authorization for its Essilor Stellest lens, which it said has been proven in medical trials to slow down myopia progression by 71% on average over two years. Now the company plans to make the Essilor Stellest lens available in the coming weeks for U.S. eyecare professionals to equip children following an international rollout.
“This lens technology evolves the traditional corrective lenses into a true medical treatment, and it marks the beginning of a new era for eyecare professionals in addressing myopia. We are thrilled to have been granted FDA’s market authorization for Essilor Stellest in the U.S., bringing it to young patients in need,” said Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO, and Paul du Saillant, Deputy CEO of EssilorLuxottica.
According to the FDA, Essilor Stellest eyeglass lenses have a clear 9mm diameter area in the center, which is surrounded by rings of small raised dots on the rest of the lens. The tiny dots provide peripheral light defocus, which may help to slow the progression of myopia in children.
“As a practicing ophthalmologist, I see firsthand the lifelong impact that vision problems can have on an individual. Today’s authorization brings to market a treatment option that may meaningfully reduce the likelihood of severe eyesight issues later in adult life, while also being easier to use and lower risk than the currently authorized devices that slow the progression of myopia in children,” said Center for Devices and Radiological Health Director Michelle Tarver, M.D., Ph.D.
