Jaipur, February, 2023.

Essilor, the world leader in prescription lenses, has launched Essilor® Stellest™ lens in India, to combat myopia progression in children and help protect their vision for the future.

The Essilor® Stellest™ lens has been designed with an exclusive technology called “H.A.L.T.” technology (2) (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) by Essilor’s research and development teams. The H.A.L.T. technology consists of a constellation of 1021 aspherical lenslets spread on 11 rings, enabling the Essilor® Stellest™ lens to correctmyopia and sharpen far vision through a single vision zonewhile slowingdown myopia progression.

The technology is a culmination of more than 30 years of academic studies, product design, rigorous research efforts in collaboration with the top research institutes and myopia experts.

“The launch of Essilor®Stellest™ lenses will provide a new revolution for eye care professionals to help correct vision and fight myopia progression in children. With more than 30 years of R&D experience in Myopia Management, we arecommitted to provide the best solution which requires innovation and awareness of the importance of preventing and slowing down myopia progression in children. These lenses provide an evidence-based spectacle lens solution – we know that this solution has been long awaited and we are confident that Essilor®Stellest™ will be a game changer in the Indian market,” said Mr Narasimhan Narayanan, Country Head, Essilor Luxottica South Asia.

In a recent study, it was observed that myopia prevalence in the age group of 5 -15 years has grown from 4.4% in 1999 to 21.9% in 2019*(1), and which is now observed to be at almost 25% (1A). The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in children spending fewer hours outdoors and more time (approximately 6 -7 hours) indoors - these factors have had an impact on the vision of our children. Ophthalmologists and eye care professionals across the country are witnessing an increasingly larger number of children walking into their practice with either higher levels of myopia when tested for the first time or with increasing margins in their existing prescriptions. Studies show that any level of myopia may increase the risk of ocular conditions, but the risk increases exponentially once reaching high myopia. Failure to manage myopic progression significantly impacts a child’s productivity due to an increased risk of ophthalmic conditions such as Myopic Maculopathy, Retinal Detachment, Open Angle Glaucoma and Visual Impairment.

The clinical trial results show that the Essilor® Stellest™ lens slowed down myopia progression by 67% on average, compared to single vision lenses, when worn 12 hours a day (3)

Other key findings from the trial include the following:

●        After the first year, the eye growth of 9 out of 10 children wearing Essilor® Stellest™ lenses was similar or slower than non-myopic children.

●        2 out of 3 children who wore Essilor® Stellest™ lenses did not need a prescription change after the first year².

●        100 percent of children wearing Essilor® Stellest™ lenses had clear vision; 100 percent of children adapted to their new lenses within a week; 91 percent of children fully adapted within three days; and 94 percent of children felt comfortable with Essilor® Stellest™ lenses, demonstrating that the lenses were comfortable, and easy to adapt for children. 

The two-year clinical trial results of Essilor® Stellest™ lenses were recentlypublished in the prestigious medical journal, JAMA Ophthalmology(4), where the lenses continue to demonstrate strong myopia control efficacy after two years. To know more, visit the link here.

Essilor® Stellest™ lenses maybe prescribed to a child with progressive myopia only after checking the myopia risk factors and conducting the appropriate tests needed to establish whether the child will benefit from this lens. For more queries, please visit https://www.essilorindia.com/

Availability and Pricing :

The product is available at all Essilor expert stores and most leading eye hospitals in India

The product is called Essilor Stellest and the price to consumer is Rs 16500/- (plus taxes) for lens only