First-of-its-kind glasses can slow nearsightedness in kids

The eternal cycle of “new school year, new prescription lenses” may finally have an end in sight, thanks to a breakthrough new product.

Eyewear giant Essilor’s new FDA-approved glasses, which are the first of its kind to slow the progression of nearsightedness in kids, have begun rolling out across the US under the brand Essilor Stellest.

Why it’s a big deal

Nearsightedness (aka myopia), is when people can clearly see objects up close, but things are fuzzier further away. Studies have shown the condition is on the rise globally, especially among children, with an estimated 30%-40% of all students in the US expected to have myopia by the time they graduate high school, per Johns Hopkins professor Dr. Michael Repka.

• For decades, there were few options to delay progression of the underlying condition, with most children simply given a prescription for glasses and told to live with nearsightedness.

But a new tool has emerged. Essilor Stellest’s new lenses, worn by kids aged 6-12, are designed to slow the eye’s elongation, which is the structural change that worsens a nearsighted person’s vision over time. Children wearing the lenses experienced up to a 70% slowdown in myopia progression over two years, according to company-funded studies.

Coming to a store near you: Essilor’s lenses are already available at select optometrists and retailers, including Target. Under the FDA’s recent approval decision, the lenses can now be prescribed to any child with myopia who’s within the recommended age range.