StellestTM

Manufacturer: Essilor

Design: Highly Aspheric Lenslet Target (HALT) technology. Central distance correction surrounded by 11 concentric rings formed by contiguous aspherical lenslets, each with a diameter of 1.1mm.

Product information

The Stellest lens employs H.A.L.T (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) technology developed by Essilor's research and development teams. It is described by Essilor as designed to "provide 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."

Myopia control mechanism

The presumed mechanism of Stellest aligns with the theory of creating simultaneous myopic retinal defocus during both distance and near viewing. In addition, the clinical trial paper1 describes the use of aspheric lenses with a power gradient in animal studies.2,3 It states that "Instead of focusing light on two distinct surfaces, as in the case of competing defocus lenses, these aspherical lenses deviate rays of light continuously in a nonlinear manner that creates a three-dimensional quantity of light in front of the retina, which we call volume of myopic defocus (VoMD) in this paper. Greater asphericity, that is, a larger VoMD, reduces lens-induced myopia in chicks.",2,3

The terminology and theory of a 'volume of myopic defocus' as applied to human interventions is new to the field. Consider this a shift in theory from simultaneous defocus in two planes (one being on the retina to correct myopia, and the other in front of the retina for myopic defocus) to a 'volume' of defocus in front of the retina of varying dioptric power. Regarding simultaneous defocus, the newest scientific exploration in animal models is described by world-leading researcher Earl Smith III and co-workers - read a recent publication here.

Myopia control efficacy

One year results from an ongoing randomized clinical trial in Chinese children aged 8-13 years showed efficacy to slow axial and refractive myopia progression. See the scientific paper summary below.

Prescribing information

The ideal childhood myope candidate in age and refraction for the Stellest spectacle lens is not described by the manufacturers, but the participant characteristics in the clinical trial can be noted.

Peer reviewed science on Stellest efficacy and safety

  1. Bao et al 2021. One-year myopia control efficacy of spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets. [link to paper abstract] 

    Chinese children (n=170) aged 8-13 years with myopia of -0.75D to -4.75D  were randomized into either single vision, highly aspherical lenslet (HAL) or slightly aspherical lenslet (SAL) spectacle lenses. After one year, myopia progressed -0.81D/0.36mm in SV, -0.48D/0.25mm in SAL and -0.27D/0.13mm in HAL. This represented around a 60-70% refractive and axial length efficacy for HAL and 30-40% for SAL.

    Axial length was stable over the one year study in 28% of the HAL group, 9% of SAL and 0% of SV groups. Distance and near acuity was no different between the groups, being around 6/6 (20/20) at distance and 6/7.5 (20/30) at near. There was no influence of the SAL or HAL lens design on near phoria or lag of accommodation.

Myopia Profile relevant blog posts

Manufacturer resources

  • Myopia Profile: Integrating myopia management into clinical practice. In this interview, Dr. Kate Gifford and Dr. Paul Gifford, Founders of Myopia Profile, share their success formula on integrating myopia management into clinical practice, tips on encouraging parents to take myopia more seriously and available resources for practitioners on myopia management. (February 2021)

  • International Myopia Institute and Essilor: Charting a Way Forward on Myopia Management. Monica Jong, Executive Director of the International Myopia Institute (IMI) and Gilles Le Saux, Senior Vice President, Research and Foresight, Essilor International, highlight the urgent need for myopia to be recognized as a global public health issue, discuss IMI and Essilor’s shared vision to address myopia together and lend their perspectives on how the IMI white papers can advance myopia research, education and management in the years to come. (February 2021)

  • GMAC research explores awareness barriers to tackling childhood myopia. This article highlights existing trends and awareness barriers among parents in the U.S. and how the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition (GMAC) surveys and activities are identifying and addressing them through health promotion and education. (January 2021)

  • Global Myopia Awareness Coalition: Giving myopia a collective voice. The Global Myopia Awareness Coalition or GMAC was formed in 2019 with a mission to promote public awareness of childhood myopia, and to promote awareness with governments, NGOs and other health care associations. As a GMAC member, Essilor recognizes that such collaborative industry efforts are critical to affect real change in the eye care industry. (October 2020)

Press releases on Essilor and myopia

References

  1. Bao J, Yang A, Huang Y, Li X, Pan Y, Ding C, Lim EW, Zheng J, Spiegel DP, Drobe B, Lu F, Chen H. One-year myopia control efficacy of spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets. Br J Ophthalmol. 2021:318367. (link)
  2. Woods J et al. Inhibition of Defocus-Induced Myopia in Chickens. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54:2662-8. (link)
  3. Irving, E. L. & Yakobchuk-Stanger, C. Myopia progression control lens reverses induced myopia in chicks. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2017;37:576-84. (link)