The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new type of glasses designed to slow the progression of nearsightedness, or myopia, in children aged 6 to 12. Myopia is a common condition where distant objects appear blurry, and its rates are increasing globally, partly due to increased screen time and close-up activities. Until now, treatment options were limited to simply wearing corrective lenses that didn't address the underlying progression of the condition.
The newly approved Essilor Stellest glasses utilize a design with 11 concentric rings containing tiny raised dots. This technology aims to refocus light onto the retina in a way that is believed to slow down the elongation of the eyeball, a key factor in worsening myopia. Company-sponsored data submitted to the FDA indicated a 70% reduction in myopia progression and a 50% reduction in eye lengthening over a two-year period in children wearing these lenses.
The long-term implications of myopia include an increased risk of serious eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment, which can lead to blindness. These new glasses offer a potential method to mitigate these risks by slowing down the disease's advancement. The estimated retail price for the glasses is $450, and major U.S. vision insurance providers are expected to offer coverage for eligible children.
This is the second FDA-approved product for myopia control in children, following MiSight contact lenses, which were approved in 2019 for ages 8 to 12 and use a similar optical principle. Some prefer glasses as an alternative to contact lenses for younger children. While medicated eye drops also exist to slow myopia, they are not FDA-approved. The FDA's approval was based on studies conducted in Asia, and some U.S. ophthalmologists are awaiting further research and U.S.-based data before widespread adoption, with independent studies currently underway. No serious side effects were reported, though some users experienced visual disturbances like halos.