F.D.A. Approved Stellest lenses for Myopia Control: Now available at Richmond Eye Experts
Good news for parents: the FDA has just approved the first eyeglass lenses designed to slow down the progression of myopia (“nearsightedness”) in children. These are not just regular glasses — they have special features that can help protect your child’s vision as their eyes grow.
They work for children ages 6 to 12 years (including kids who are just starting treatment).
They look like normal glasses, but they have a special design: a clear center zone and tiny raised dots (“lenslets”) around the edge. These dots subtly redirect light in the periphery of vision in a way that helps slow down the eye’s growth. That’s important because longer eyeballs are what cause worsening nearsightedness.
What the Research Shows
In a clinical study over 2 years, children wearing the Stellest lenses had 71% less myopia progression (by prescription change) compared to kids wearing regular single-vision lenses.
Also, the elongation (growth) of the eye was reduced by 53% compared to the regular lenses. Since eye lengthening is what leads to more severe myopia and higher risk of eye diseases later, slowing that growth is a big deal.
There were no serious safety issues in that study. Some children reported visual effects like slight blur or halos, especially at first. That’s normal and usually improves.
Myopia often gets worse during childhood and before the eyes finish growing. The worse it gets, the higher the risk later in life of things like retinal problems, glaucoma, cataracts, or other eye health issues.
These new lenses give an option for children who may not be good candidates for contact-lenses, or are too young for certain contact-based treatments.
They offer a non-invasive, relatively simple way to slow myopia, potentially reducing how strong their prescription has to get over time.
If your child hasn’t had a recent comprehensive eye exam, this is the best place to start. We’ll measure their current prescription and axial length (the length of the eye) to establish a baseline. Tracking these measurements over time helps us monitor changes and assess how well treatments are working. We strongly prefer performing our own baseline exam rather than relying on data from another office, to ensure all measurements are taken with our calibrated equipment and consistent testing methods.
Our practice offers several evidence-based treatments designed to slow the progression of myopia:
Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): Special overnight lenses that gently reshape the cornea to provide clear daytime vision without glasses or contacts.
Dual Focus Contact Lenses (MiSight®): Soft daily contact lenses clinically proven to reduce myopia progression in children.
Stellest® Lenses: Innovative spectacle lenses designed with cutting-edge technology to help slow myopia progression while providing clear, comfortable vision.
Low-Dose Atropine Eye Drops: A simple, non-invasive nightly drop that can slow the rate of myopia increase.
Lifestyle & Environmental Strategies: Encourage more outdoor time, limit prolonged screen use and near work, and ensure proper lighting and regular visual breaks.
Our experienced doctors will guide you through every step of your child’s personalized myopia management journey. During this stage, your doctor may recommend Stellest® lenses or another treatment best suited to your child’s needs. We’ll explain all available options, review progress, and adjust the plan as your child’s vision develops.
