Essilor recently launched Stellest™ lens, a new generation of spectacle lens solutions in
the fight against myopia. This lens is not yet available in Canada. Interim
findings after one year of an ongoing clinical trial show more than 60%
slowdown in myopia progression on average, when compared to children wearing
single vision lenses.
Myopia has been steadily increasing worldwide and in
particular in China, with 54% prevalence in children aged 6-18 and 81%
prevalence in children aged 18 years old. Essilor successfully launched
Stellest™ lens in the Wenzhou
Medical University Eye Hospital in China in July, with extremely positive
feedback from parents and children alike. This will be continued with a broader
roll-out in other hospitals in China, followed by several other countries.
The ongoing state-of-the-art three-year clinical trial
on 167 myopic children started in 2018 in Essilor’s joint Research and Development Center with
its key partner, the Wenzhou Medical University, in China. The one-year results
already demonstrate strong evidence of the lenses’ effectiveness in slowing
down myopia progression and promises to be Essilor’s best solution to fight
myopia progression in children—in an aesthetic, efficient, safe, simple and
easy to prescribe solution.
Key interim findings revealed:
● After one year, children wearing Stellest™ lenses saved more than half a diopter of myopia degree
on average (more than 60% slow-down in myopia progression when compared to the
control group wearing single vision lenses).
● After one year, eye elongation was prevented in 28% of
the children wearing Stellest™ lenses, while eye elongation occurred in all the children wearing
single vision lenses.
● 100% of children
wearing Stellest™ lenses had clear vision, adapted to their new lenses within a week, and
were as satisfied with their quality of vision as the children wearing single
vision lenses.
These promising interim findings were first unveiled at the World
Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS) Worldwide Connect
2020 virtual congress.
The Stellest™ lens has been designed with an
exclusive and pioneering technology called “H.A.L.T.” technology (Highly
Aspherical Lenslet Target) by Essilor’s industry-leading research and development
teams. It is the culmination of more than 30 years of academic studies, product
design, rigorous research efforts, and collaborating with the top research
institutes and myopia experts.
The Stellest™ lens provides myopia correction
and sharp far vision through a single vision zone and myopia control through
H.A.L.T. technology. The H.A.L.T. technology consists of a constellation of
aspherical lenslets spread on 11 rings and was designed to create for the first
time, a volume of signal that slows down the elongation of the eye. The power
on each ring has been ingeniously determined to guarantee a volume of signal
always in front of the retina and following its shape, to achieve consistent
myopia slowdown.
Norbert Gorny, Co-Chief Operating Officer, Essilor
International shed light on the progress, “The interim results are
impressive, confirming the positive impact of this solution on myopic children
and making us fully confident that the Stellest™ lens will be
one of the most effective myopia control spectacle lenses in the world. This
lens will mark a new era of innovation in this field and is testament to one of
the many ways in which Essilor continues to push the boundaries with innovation
and technology, to tackle the myopia epidemic.”
Dr. Ken Nischal, WSPOS Co-founder and Division Chief,
Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus, and Adult Motility Professor of
Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, said, “Given
the increasing prevalence of myopia and its related complications, tackling
this issue will require a multidisciplinary approach with new innovations and
developments in education and clinical care. We’re glad to see companies like
Essilor supporting us in driving the conversation on such key issues, so that
ultimately we are able to help more children worldwide.”
Click HERE for the full press release.
