Essilor, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company, recently launched Stellest™ lens, a new generation of spectacle lens solutions in the fight against myopia. Interim findings of an ongoing clinical trial show more than 60% slowdown in myopia progression on average, when compared to children wearing single vision lenses.

Myopia today represents a global health crisis, with five billion people expected to be myopic by 2050. It can progress rapidly in children and may lead to sight-threatening eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration later in life. When detected early, myopia control solutions can help in slowing down its progression in children, reducing such risks, and ensuring a better life quality.

Myopia has been steadily increasing worldwide, in particular in China, with 54% prevalence in children aged 6-18 years and 81% prevalence in individuals aged 18 years and older1. In line with its mission of improving lives by improving sight and its commitment to focus resources where they are most needed, Essilor launched Stellest™ lens in the Wenzhou Medical University Eye Hospital in China in July 2020. This will be followed by a broader roll-out across other hospitals and top stores of selected chains in China, and progressively by several other countries.