Stellest Lenses: A breakthrough FDA-approved solution to slow myopia progression in children

Dr. Ryan Corte
Nov 3
4 min read

Essilor Stellest lenses are now available at LensCrafters and can be prescribed at Reflect Vision Care

At Reflect Vision Care, we’re always looking for the best tools and treatments to help our patients preserve healthy vision, especially for children whose eyes are still developing. That’s why we’re thrilled to share news about a landmark development in pediatric myopia management: the Stellest eyeglass lenses.

In the fall of 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of Stellest lenses to correct myopia (nearsightedness), with or without astigmatism, and to slow the progression of myopia in children aged 6 to 12 years at treatment initiation.

Here’s what it means for families, how it fits into our “myopia control toolbox,” and how you can access these lenses through our trusted optical partner, LensCrafters.

What are Stellest lenses?

Stellest is a new type of eyeglass lens designed specifically for children in the myopia‐progression stage. According to the FDA announcement:

The lenses feature a clear central zone (about a 9 mm diameter) for focused vision.
Surrounding that central zone are tiny raised dot structures (“peripheral lenslets”) that create a peripheral light defocus effect, believed to help slow the growth of the eyeball’s axial length.
In clinical testing over 24 months, children wearing Stellest lenses showed a 71% reduction in myopia progression (spherical equivalent) compared to standard single-vision lenses.
The eye elongation was reduced by 53% in the study.
The FDA emphasized that these lenses offer a lower risk alternative to contact‐lens based myopia control options, since they avoid the infection risk associated with contact lens wear in children.

In simple terms: as the child’s eyeball grows, the risk of more severe myopia (and associated complications later in life) increases. These lenses aim to intervene during that growth phase and slow the rate of change, rather than just correct the current prescription.

Why this matters for your child’s vision

Myopia (nearsightedness) isn’t just “worse vision needing stronger glasses.” Several key points make early intervention important, especially for children:

The prevalence of myopia is increasing rapidly in the U.S. and worldwide.
When myopia becomes high (very strong prescriptions), the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, such as retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts, increases.
Because children’s eyes are still growing, the earlier we institute safe and evidence-based myopia-control strategies, the better the chance to reduce long‐term risks.

At Reflect Vision Care, we view myopia not only as a refractive error but as a progressive ocular condition that deserves proactive management. Introducing tools like Stellest lenses gives us another evidence-based option to discuss with families.

How Stellest fits into our myopia control program

While Stellest lenses are exciting, they are one of several myopia‐control tools we use. It’s important to recognize that each child is unique, and what works best depends on many factors (age, rate of progression, lifestyle, visual behaviors, etc.). Here’s how we think about the program:

Lifestyle and visual habits: Encouraging more time outdoors, reducing near-work strain, maintaining good posture and lighting for reading/screens.
Monitoring and measurement: Retina photography and axial-length monitoring (where appropriate) help us track how the child’s eye is changing over time.
Optical interventions: This is where Stellest lenses come in, a newly FDA-approved option for spectacle wear.
Other optical/therapeutic options: Depending on the child’s profile, we may also discuss MiSight contact lenses, orthokeratology (overnight lenses), or low dose atropine for myopia control.
Regular review: Myopia management isn’t “set it and forget it.” We review progress, adjust treatment plans, and update recommendations based on how each child is doing.

With Stellest lenses now available, we can offer children who traditionally may have been limited to standard single-vision spectacles an advanced option with proven results.

How to get Stellest lenses through LensCrafters

We are pleased to partner with LensCrafters for dispensing these lenses, giving our families a seamless experience:

After your child’s comprehensive exam at Reflect Vision Care, if we determine Stellest lenses are appropriate, we’ll coordinate the prescription and ensure LensCrafters receives the correct lens specification.
At the LensCrafters optical location, the staff will guide you through frame selection, lens fitting, and aftercare.
Because these are a specialized lens design, we will schedule follow‐up visits to monitor how your child is adapting and how the lens treatment is performing over time.

We recommend scheduling the exam sooner rather than later if you are concerned your child’s myopia is progressing. Early intervention tends to lead to better long‐term outcomes.

Things to ask & keep in mind

Every treatment has considerations. Here are some questions you may want to discuss with us:

Is my child a good candidate for Stellest lenses (age, progression rate, other eye health factors)?
What other myopia‐control options might apply and how do they compare (cost, efficacy, risk, convenience)?
How will we monitor progress (eye length, refraction, lifestyle factors)?
What should we expect in terms of adaptation (e.g., blur, halos, or other visual symptoms were noted in clinical studies).
What is the ongoing cost (lenses, follow-ups) and how does it fit our budget and vision plan?

Final thoughts on Stellest lenses

The arrival of Stellest lenses marks a significant advance in how we approach myopia in children. At Reflect Vision Care, our aim is to combine the latest evidence-based treatments with personalized care, patient education, and practical support through our optical partner LensCrafters.

If you’re a parent or guardian of a child with myopia, or you’ve noticed changes in how often their glasses prescription is increasing, now is the perfect time to book a consultation. Let’s talk about whether Stellest lenses (or another myopia control strategy) might be the right step toward safeguarding your child’s vision now and into the future.

Schedule your child's eye exam at one of our convenient Reflect Vision Care locations: