Implementing myopia control lenses into practice

September marks both Myopia Awareness Month and the 1-year anniversary of the FDA approval of EssilorLuxottica’s Stellest lenses for myopia treatment.¹ Recent data from a 2-year clinical trial found that the lenses resulted in a decline of both myopia progression and axial elongation in a cohort of 159 children.^2,3 Monica Jong, BOptom, PhD, FAAO, FBCLE, Head of Medical Affairs North America at EssilorLuxottica spoke to Optometry Times about the study’s findings, and how they will contribute to the implementation of Stellest lenses into optometry practices.

“This is an important part of public health and access that today we have a myopia control spectacle that has been independently validated…by the FDA, an independent organization, as well as independently validated by the JAMA Ophthalmology group,” Jong stated.

Stellest’s highly aspherial lenslets control myopia progression by directing light rays, preventing a singular focal convergence.² This allows for a “distributed element of defocus…directly on the retina, ensuring a sharp central image,” according to the study authors.¹ The present study, which randomized the cohort 1:1 over two years, found that myopia progression was reduced by 71% compared with single-vision lenses in US children over the trial period.^2,3

Jong described early preventative intervention as key to slowing the progression of myopia. “Myopia is one of those conditions where, if we don't manage it immediately, it has a tendency to progress the fastest at the youngest ages, and this is the critical time to intervene,” Jong stated.

“Today we have a tool that we can use to implement. We can offer to every child with myopia who needs to correct vision and slow their myopia from getting worse, and it is about preventative eye care,” she continued.

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently passed a resolution to formally classify myopia as a formal disease.⁴ Jong noted that the decision supports insurance coverage for appropriate myopia treatments in children and adolescents, and will transform the pediatric eye care landscape. Stellest lenses are included as a treatment option in the resolution for children aged 6-12 years old.⁴

According to Jong, the Stellest lenses are a “complimentary” treatment option to Atropine and Ortho-K myopia control lenses. “Children who are younger, children who have never had myopia before, [and] children who have prescriptions that are outside the parameters that can be corrected with traditional solutions such as the myopia control contact lenses that are available today…Children still need some form of refractive correction at the same time to provide good vision, and…the Stellest lenses…are able to slow the myopia at the same time,” Jong stated.

As Myopia Awareness comes to a close, Jong emphasized that there is now a “full portfolio” of pediatric treatment options. "EssilorLuxottica has also trained over 30,000 eye care professional on myopia management in its commitment to addressing the disease as a public health concern," according to a statement provided to Optometry Times from the company.

References

1. EssilorLuxottica. Essilor Stellest is the first and only FDA market authorized spectacle lens in the United States. Published September 25, 2025. Accessed September 23, 2026.

2. Shen J, Hunt C, Young G, Drope B. Spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets for myopia control: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Opthalmology. 2026. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2026.3288

3. EssilorLuxottica. 24-month U.S. clinical trial results supporting FDA de novo market authorization of Essilor Stellest lenses* Published in JAMA Ophthalmology. Published August 27, 2026. Accessed September 21, 2026.

4. American Academy of Ophthalmology. American Medical Association backs formal classification of nearsightedness as a disease. Published September 2, 2026. Accessed September 11, 2026. https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/ama-backs-formal-classification-nearsightedness