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Essilor Stellest: The New Generation of Smart Lenses to Slow Myopia in Children
For many parents, finding out that their child’s nearsightedness keeps getting worse, can be worrying. The good news is that the optical world has made a major breakthrough: Essilor® Stellest® lenses. These innovative lenses are designed not only to correct vision but to actually slow down the progression of myopia — a growing concern among children worldwide.
Backed by years of research and clinical trials, Stellest lenses are already changing the way eye care professionals think about myopia management. And now, with FDA market authorization, they’re on their way to becoming available in the United States.
What Are Essilor Stellest Lenses?
Essilor, one of the world’s leading optical brands and part of the EssilorLuxottica group, has always been known for its advanced lens technologies. From Crizal anti-reflective coatings to progressive designs, the company continues to innovate in vision science — and Stellest is one of its most exciting achievements yet.
Essilor Stellest lens, illustrating 1021 contiguous highly aspherical lenslets spread on 11 rings.
Essilor Stellest lenses are specifically developed for children who are myopic (nearsighted). Unlike regular single-vision lenses, which merely correct blurred vision, Stellest lenses have been designed to slow down myopia development. So, they not only help kids see well today but also protect their vision for tomorrow.
The Stellest lens gives clear and comfortable vision in the center of the lens, while the periphery incorporates a special pattern made up of tiny lenslets that have a small influence on the way light comes into the eye. This therefore sends a signal to inhibit the eye's natural ability to elongate-the main culprit behind the worsening of myopia over time.
Importantly, the Stellest lenses have been validated and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it a landmark event. It is the first spectacle lens to have FDA authorization to slow down the progression of pediatric myopia in children aged 6 to 12 years at the initiation of treatment.
How Does Essilor Stellest Work?
The secret behind Stellest lies in its unique optical design called Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target (HALT) technology. Here’s how it works:
Central clear zone: The middle of the lens corrects the child’s vision just like a normal pair of glasses.
Concentric lenslets: Around that central zone are hundreds of tiny aspherical lenslets arranged in rings. These lenslets gently alter peripheral focus, creating what’s known as a “myopic defocus” signal that tells the eye to slow its growth.
Natural comfort: Because only the periphery is affected, children still see perfectly sharp images straight ahead. Most kids adapt to the lenses within a few days.
Essilor Stellest spectacle lens, showing the single vision zone and the zone to control myopia progression (H.A.L.T. technology).
Clinical studies have shown remarkable results. Children who wore Stellest lenses for 12 hours a day, every day, experienced up to 67–71% slower myopia progression compared to those who wore regular single-vision lenses. Even after several years, the slowing effect remained consistent, helping reduce the risk of developing high myopia and related eye diseases later in life.
Benefits of Essilor Stellest Lenses
Parents and eye doctors alike are excited about Stellest — and for good reason. These lenses offer several benefits that have been proven more evident than others:
Clinical Outcomes: Shows a reduction of myopia progression by up to 70% when worn regularly.
Non-invasive and safe:No medicines are required, no overnight contact lens- just ordinary spectacle lenses with advanced optics.
Comfortable to use and easy to wear: Sharp central vision equals kids being able to see naturally whether for reading, school or play.
Fast adaptation: Majority of children could adapt within 3 days.
Long-lasting protection: Prevents retinal detachment, glaucoma, and complications of high myopia.
FDA approved: Authorized for use in the United States; thus, its safety and efficacy are confirmed.
Stellest lenses are an uncomplicated yet radical way to improve eye health for kids in the long term without altering any of their daily habits.
Essilor Stellest Lenses – Key Facts and Specifications
| Feature | Description / Data |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Essilor (part of EssilorLuxottica) |
| Lens Type | Spectacle lens for myopia correction and control in children |
| Technology | HALT – Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target design |
| Design Structure | Central clear vision zone surrounded by 11 concentric rings of aspherical lenslets |
| Number of Lenslets | Approximately 1,000 micro-lenslets per lens |
| Primary Function | Slows the progression of myopia while providing sharp vision |
| Clinical Results | Up to 67–71% slower myopia progression and 53% reduction in axial elongation (vs. single-vision lenses) |
| FDA Status (U.S.) | Market Authorized (De Novo, 2025) — first FDA-approved spectacle lens for slowing pediatric myopia |
| Recommended Age | 6 – 12 years at initiation of treatment |
| Adaptation Time | Most children adapt within 3 days; full comfort in about a week |
| Wearing Schedule | Optimal results with ≥ 12 hours daily wear time |
| Clinical Trial Duration | 2-year randomized controlled study + 6-year long-term data |
| Available Versions | Clear lens; also sun-tinted versions with UV protection coatings |
| Safety Profile | Non-invasive, no medication required, no reported serious adverse events |
| Target Outcome | Reduces long-term risk of high myopia, retinal detachment, and myopic maculopathy |
| Launch in U.S. | Expected availability beginning late 2025 |
Is Essilor Stellest Available in the U.S.?
After being successfully used in Europe and Asia, Essilor Stellest lenses are finally making their way to the American market. With FDA approval now in place, eye care professionals in the U.S. will soon be able to prescribe and fit Stellest for young patients.
In effect, soon parents won't need to wait long until they can access this powerful technology at home. The introduction of Stellest is a major advancement in pediatric eye care in providing families with a safe, proven way to protect their children's vision.
Why You Should Visit EuroOptica in New York
The Essilor Stellest lens is going to be introduced into the market, and EuroOptica is proud to be among the first optical centers preparing for its launch in New York, as soon as it's available in the United States.
EuroOptica offers an exceptional experience trafficking in high-end eyewear and optometry services, within three locations:
- 280 Columbus Ave (Upper West Side)
- 463 Amsterdam Ave (Upper West Side)
- 1249 3rd Ave (Upper East Side).
Pediatric vision and myopia control are specialties of our optometrists. Each child gets individualized attention in appropriate eye care.
Parents can now take their children in for a complete examination to check their eye health. This way, your family will be one of the first ones in New York to experience Stellest groundbreaking myopia control technology for your kid.
At EuroOptica, it’s not just about better sight — it’s about protecting your child’s vision for years to come!
FAQ About Essilor Stellest Lenses
Are Stellest lenses available in the USA?
Essilor Stellest lenses have officially received FDA market authorization and are now cleared for sale in the United States. This means U.S. eye care professionals can begin prescribing and dispensing Stellest to eligible children. The nationwide rollout is expected to expand through late 2025, with many optical stores — including EuroOptica in New York — preparing to offer them soon.
Can Stellest reverse myopia?
No, Stellest lenses don’t reverse myopia — they slow down its progression. Once a child becomes nearsighted, the condition can’t be undone, but Stellest can help prevent it from worsening rapidly. By managing eye growth during childhood, these lenses help reduce the risk of developing high myopia and future vision complications.
What is the prescription range of Essilor lenses?
Essilor offers one of the widest prescription ranges on the market. For Stellest lenses specifically, the range typically covers mild to moderate myopia, with sphere powers from approximately –0.50 D to –10.00 D and cylinder corrections up to –4.00 D, depending on regional availability. Other Essilor lenses, such as single-vision or Varilux progressive designs, go far beyond this range and can be fully customized.
Are Essilor lenses worth it?
Absolutely. Essilor lenses are known worldwide for their optical precision, comfort, and protective coatings. Whether it’s their Crizal anti-glare finish, Transitions light-adaptive options, or advanced myopia-control technology like Stellest, Essilor consistently leads in innovation. The brand invests heavily in research, ensuring every lens offers measurable benefits for visual quality and eye health — which makes them a top choice for both adults and children.
What age is Stellest for?
Essilor Stellest lenses are specifically designed for children aged 6 to 12 years old at the start of treatment. This is the age range when myopia typically begins and progresses most rapidly. Starting early allows the lenses to be most effective, helping to slow eye growth and maintain better vision into the teen years.