EssilorLuxottica announced an expansion of its Essilor Stellest platform and introduced enhanced myopia management options for children. The announcements were made at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

The new Essilor Stellest 2.0 lenses are designed to deliver higher efficacy in slowing axial elongation. According to a 12-month prospective, randomized, double-masked contralateral crossover clinical trial conducted in Singapore on 50 children, the new design generates a stronger optical signal, delivering double the mean optical power compared with the original Essilor Stellest lenses. The lenses are currently available in Greater China, with expansion to other key markets planned from 2026.

"The original Essilor Stellest lens was the first spectacle lens authorized by the FDA and clinically proven to slow myopia progression in children compared with single vision lenses," according to a statement from the company. "These new lenses represent the evolution of that technology."

EssilorLuxottica also announced it is introducing Essilor Stellest plano pair lenses as a pre-myopia intervention. Clinical research shows that postponing myopia onset by 1 year can provide benefits comparable to more than 2 years of slowed progression.

In one of the first randomized, controlled, independent trials on plano lenses for delaying myopia onset, published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, children ages 6-12 at risk of myopia who wore Essilor Stellest plano pair lenses for more than 30 hours per week experienced slower axial elongation. The plano pair lenses are available in Greater China.

EssilorLuxottica also showcased the Essilor Stellest Smartglasses, integrating smart technology into the Essilor Stellest brand. The glasses are equipped with Essilor Stellest lenses and track wearing time and patterns, providing behavioral insights to help with compliance—a factor the company identifies as critical to myopia management efficacy. The Essilor Stellest Smartglasses are expected to be available in Mainland China beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

“By combining advanced lens technology with smart features, we enable early intervention and promote healthy wearing habits,” said Francesco Milleri, chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica, and Paul du Saillant, deputy CEO, in a joint statement. 

The expansion comes as myopia continues to affect a growing population globally. An estimated 740 million children worldwide are projected to have myopia by 2050, according to projections cited in the announcement.