As a parent, you’re used to the annual routine: another eye exam, another discussion with the doctor, and all too often, the same news: “Your child’s prescription has gotten a little stronger.”
It’s a frustrating cycle. You see your child’s glasses get thicker, and you worry. Is this just a part of growing up, or is it something more?
For millions of children, it is something more. It’s progressive myopia, and it’s a growing global health concern. But we now have a new technology that doesn’t just correct vision—it helps control it.
The brand name is Stellest, and it’s a potential game-changer for children with nearsightedness. That sounds dramatic, but it really is big news!
Why “Getting Stronger” Isn’t Just an Inconvenience
First, let’s talk more about myopia (nearsightedness). It’s not only a “vision problem”—it’s a physical change in the eye. The eyeball is growing too long.
A standard eyeglass lens is great at correcting the blurry vision this causes. But that’s all it does. It helps your child see today, but it does nothing to stop the underlying problem. The eye keeps growing, and the prescription keeps getting worse, especially in the high growth years when they are growing taller.
This isn’t just about the inconvenience of thick glasses. High myopia, the kind that progresses rapidly in childhood, significantly increases the risk of serious eye diseases later in life, such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic macular degeneration.
The Tech
This is how the Stellest lens provides stability. It’s a single pair of glasses that does two jobs at once:
- Corrects Vision: The center of the lens has your child’s exact prescription, giving them sharp, clear vision for school, sports, and screen time.
- Controls Progression: The rest of the lens is covered in a “constellation” of 1,021 tiny, nearly invisible lenslets. This is the H.A.L.T. (Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target) Technology.
How Does H.A.L.T. Technology Work?
Imagine those 1,021 lenslets creating a “protective shield” of light around the central vision. This shield creates a signal in front of the retina that, in simple terms, tells the eye to stop growing so fast.
It’s a non-invasive signal that slows down the physical elongation of the eye. Your child just wears their glasses as normal, and this lens technology does the work.
But Does It Actually Work?
We now have extensive, multi-year clinical trials. The results are exciting.
In a landmark two-year study, children wearing Stellest lenses for at least 12 hours a day saw their myopia progression slow by 67% on average compared to children wearing standard single-vision lenses.
Not 10% or 20%, but a 67% slowdown.
The studies also found that the physical growth of their eyes was slowed by 60% on average. This is a significant, protective effect that can help safeguard their vision.
Most children with myopia experience a -0.75 to -1.00 change in prescription each year, 3-4 steps in lens power. With the Stellest lens the average change was -0.25, 1 step.
The Big Upside of the Stellest Lens
As doctors, we value an option that is both highly effective and easy for families to use. Stellest is the definition of that.
- It’s Non-Invasive: It’s not a contact lens, not an eye drop, and not an overnight treatment. It’s a simple pair of glasses.
- It’s Kid-Approved: The technology is nearly invisible, and children adapt to the lenses incredibly fast. Clinical studies reported that 100% of children adapted within one week.
- It’s Safe and Comfortable: The clinical data showed that children wearing Stellest had just as few (and in some cases, fewer) complaints of headaches or blur than children in regular glasses—likely because their prescription was finally staying stable!
Don’t wait for the next prescription change. Call us today to schedule a myopia management consultation.