EssilorLuxottica has highlighted its Essilor Stellest lens as a major advancement in the fight against childhood myopia, at a time when India faces a rapidly escalating vision health challenge among children.
The company emphasized that “Essilor Stellest is the only US FDA market authorized spectacle lens for myopia control in India.”
The lens received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) market authorization via the De Novo pathway in late 2025, following its earlier designation as a Breakthrough Technology in 2021.
According to the company, “The Essilor Stellest lens is the first and only U.S. FDA market authorized spectacle lens to slow myopia progression in children.”
Backed by clinical research, EssilorLuxottica said the lens demonstrated significant efficacy, with studies showing “Essilor Stellest lenses slowed myopia progression by 71% on average over 2 years.”
The announcement comes as India grapples with a sharp rise in childhood myopia. The company noted that “Nearly 50% of urban children in India are projected to be affected by myopia by 2050,” while “1 in 4 children in India today have myopia.”
Experts warn that many cases go undetected due to the absence of mandatory eye screening in schools. EssilorLuxottica stressed that early detection is critical, stating myopia is “not just a refractive error; it’s a disease which can progress – standard lenses can only correct myopia they cannot control its progression.”
Calling for routine vision checks, the company urged parents to integrate eye exams into annual back-to-school health routines to prevent long-term damage.
EssilorLuxottica said it is expanding access to Stellest lenses across India, focusing first on major metros and emerging urban hubs including Pune, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Chandigarh, before extending into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through eye care professionals and optical networks.
Highlighting the significance of FDA authorization, Dr Kunal Srivastava, Director Medical & Professional Affairs at EssilorLuxottica India said: “For decades, FDA approval has become synonymous with international standards of care in Indian medical practice. Doctors, hospitals, and patients often view FDA approval as the ultimate mark of clinical credibility.
"This lens technology evolves the traditional corrective lenses into a true medical treatment, and it marks the beginning of a new era for eyecare professionals in addressing myopia.”
Venu Ambati, President, India at EssilorLuxottica, added: “This is an extremely significant milestone for Essilor Stellest in India. It reinforces Essilor Stellest as the gold standard in myopia management, strengthening trust among doctors, parents, and institutions.
"Myopia progression in children requires timely and informed decisions; delaying intervention can have lifelong consequences for eye health. Essilor Stellest addresses this critical parental need by enabling myopia control at the right time, when progression is first detected.
"Backed by strong clinical evidence and US FDA market authorization, Essilor Stellest is not just a lens—it is an investment in a child’s future eye health. At a time when myopia is emerging as a global epidemic, this innovation represents a major milestone in our Group’s mission to empower families to take proactive control of their children’s visual health.”
