Key Issues

EssilorLuxottica Marks 45 Years of Innovation and Research in Myopia Management

Celebrating decades of science-driven progress and global impact during Myopia Awareness Week 2025

Q1: 45 years is a signficant milestone. How has the approach to myopia management evolved over time?

Olga Prenat: EssilorLuxottica’s commitment to myopia management began well before it became a recognized global public health priority. Over the past decades, we have continuously advanced our efforts through research, innovation and education in close collaboration with eye care professionals and professional organizations around the world. We’ve also evolved from focusing on vision correction and slowing myopia progression to delivering a more personalized, holistic long-term management approach—emphasizing early detection, delaying onset, accurate diagnosis, tailored treatment and long-term monitoring.

Olga Prenat, Head of Medical & Professional Affairs at EssilorLuxottica

A cornerstone of this commitment is our ongoing investment in clinical research, which led to the development and global success of Essilor Stellest lenses, launched in 2020. These lenses are now backed by six-year clinical data, demonstrating sustained and long-term efficacy up to the age of 19.¹ The clinical trial which began in 2018 was conducted at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Wenzhou, China. They’ve shown efficacy not just in controlling myopia progression but also in delaying the onset of myopia—especially in children with low hyperopic reserves who are at risk of developing myopia.²

But the lenses are just one part of a broader, integrated ecosystem. We’ve integrated a full suite of tools to support eye care professionals in delivering personalized, data-driven care. This includes instruments and devices like the Vision-R 800 powered with Digital Infinite Refraction technology and the Myopia Expert 700, which combines biometry with corneal topography and pupillometry capabilities. To further enhance practice workflows and patient communication and engagement, we have new upcoming digital tools like the Essilor Stellest Myopia Suite that can be fully linked to our dedicated instruments. Complementing all of this is our Leonardo e-learning platform, providing ongoing professional education to ensure eye care professionals stay at the forefront of myopia management. By integrating lenses, frames, digital tools, diagnostics and practitioner education, we’re not only offering solutions— we’re offering a comprehensive, science-led ecosystem that supports every stage of the myopia journey, from delaying onset to long-term management.

Q2: How is EssilorLuxottica addressing the global myopia challenge?

Balthazar Masurel: We are addressing the global myopia challenge through a comprehensive five-pillar strategy that reflects our long-term vision and commitment:

Innovation & Science – Everything starts with science. We are going deeper into fundamental research to better understand the mechanisms behind myopia development and to develop next-generation solutions that meet evolving patient needs.
Medical & Professional Engagement – We are building strong relationships with key medical stakeholders and professional associations to help make myopia management the standard of care across the globe.
Support for Eye Care Professionals (ECPs) – We provide ECPs with practical tools, evidence-based solutions, diagnostics, digital support and education to help them confidently prescribe and manage myopia.
Market Access – We work closely with governments and reimbursement systems to raise awareness about the long-term public health burden of myopia, promote early childhood screening and improve access to effective myopia management solutions.
Consumer & Patient Engagement – Through trusted brands like Essilor Stellest, Nikon and Kodak, we help families take early, informed action—ensuring that our solutions are effective, accessible and resonate with real needs.

These five pillars form the core of our global expansion strategy as we roll out our myopia solutions worldwide.

Q3: What are some key milestones or activities that EssilorLuxottica is focusing on to raise awareness and educate both eye care professionals and the public during Myopia Awareness Week 2025?

Olga Prenat: Myopia Awareness Week is an opportunity for us to spread knowledge about the importance of early detection, timely intervention and proactive action in managing myopia. Since 2021, EssilorLuxottica has been an active participant in Myopia Awareness Week, using this initiative to amplify awareness, provide practitioner resources and engage families through educational campaigns. This year, we’ve introduced a wide range of new content on our Leonardo platform, including live events, expert-led video series and educational materials. Highlights include a focus on delaying the onset of myopia in pre-myopic children, featuring insights from renowned expert Dr. Kate Gifford, key clinical studies on Essilor Stellest lenses and scientific highlights from major international conferences such as the International Myopia Conference, and more. We’re also sharing perspectives from global experts to provide a truly comprehensive understanding of the current and future landscape in myopia management on Leonardo.

Ahead of Myopia Awareness Week, we presented new findings at key conferences such as the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting 2025 and European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO) 2025. At ARVO held in Salt Lake City in early May, we shared the latest research on myopia, presbyopia and light management. A key highlight was our Exhibitor Education Forum sessions, featuring Professor Mark Bullimore, Dr. Norbert Gorny and Dr. Björn Drobe, and moderated by myself, where we presented the latest research on Essilor Stellest lenses and the future of myopia management and clinical trials.

Looking ahead, we’ll continue engaging with the global eye care community at upcoming events such as the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) Conference, the 5th World Congress of Optometry, European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) 2025 Congress, International Myopia Society Meeting, EURETINA and other international congresses in the months following Myopia Awareness Week. More than just participation, our role at these events is about contributing to scientific dialogue, presenting evidence-based innovation and remaining at the forefront of both research and clinical application.

Q4: What are the next steps in innovation for EssilorLuxottica?

Balthazar Masurel: After successfully developing the myopia management spectacle lens category with innovations like Essilor Stellest and SightGlass Vision’s Diffusion Optics Technology, we are now evolving toward a full-fledged multimodal ecosystem. This ecosystem is designed to support the needs of every patient across the entire myopia journey—from initial screening through to follow-up care.

Balthazar Masurel, Global Myopia Category Lead at EssilorLuxottica

We understand that the best solution for a rapidly progressing young child may not be the same as for an active myopic teenager. That’s why we’re working to develop and deliver more adaptable, personalized approaches to myopia management.

The next major step in this journey is the launch of Essilor Stellest Glasses, which represent our first complete pair solution—Essilor Stellest lenses with specially designed Essilor Stellest frames.^*†3 They have been ergonomically designed to offer ideal fitting, safety, comfort and stability, in order to extend daily wearing time. The rollout of these complete pairs will begin in China this June. As this ecosystem expands globally, we remain committed to addressing the diverse and evolving needs of children and families.

Q5: What role does global collaboration play in all this?

Olga Prenat: Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do in myopia management. The scale of the myopia epidemic is such that no single company, organization or country can tackle it alone. Our partnerships with key medical stakeholders, professional associations and institutions like the International Myopia Institute, Myopia Profile, the World Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS), Review of Myopia Management and the Global Myopia Awareness Coalition are crucial for advancing science-based awareness and education behind myopia management and ensuring that we are all aligned in our efforts to help make myopia management the standard of care worldwide. Through these collaborations, we’re not only able to contribute to global research but also share best practices, advance education and build public awareness on a much larger scale. For example, with WSPOS, we’re a Silver Sponsor of their independent education program “Best Practices in Managing Myopia Patient Workflow,” featuring expert-led video content and a digital workbook to support pediatric eye care. This content will be available on Leonardo for two years.

We’re also thrilled to be part of the PREMYOM consortium, where we’re coordinating the expertise of several global research institutes to develop personalized myopia solutions that are adaptable to different patient populations. These collaborations not only drive innovation but also help bring consistent, evidence-based and personalized care to more children worldwide.

Q6: Looking ahead, what is next for EssilorLuxottica in advancing myopia management globally, and what message do you have for both eye care professionals and the public about the future of myopia management?

Olga Prenat: Looking ahead, EssilorLuxottica will continue to build on its strong legacy of innovation, focusing on early intervention, personalized care, collaborating with eye care professionals and raising global awareness. Our teams are committed to advancing both technology and clinical outcomes, and we’re excited about the progress we’re seeing in myopia management.

To ECPs my message is straightforward: Start early, and approach myopia management with purpose. Myopia is more than just a refractive error—it’s a lifelong vision health risk that requires proactive attention.
For families: Prevention, early detection and action matter. Understanding myopia and managing it from the start are key to ensuring better long-term outcomes for their children.

The future of myopia management lies in tailored care, scientific collaboration, and a shared commitment to better outcomes—for every child, everywhere. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, and we’re more committed than ever to continuing this important work in the years to come.

Essilor Stellest lenses are currently not available in all countries, including in the U.S.

*Essilor Stellest frames are ideal to host Essilor Stellest lenses, they are developed to be safe, stable and comfortable to help extend daily wearing time.

†According to a prospective, controlled, randomized, double-masked clinical trial in China, results based on 32 children wearing Essilor Stellest lenses at least 12 hours per day every day for two consecutive years demonstrated that when worn for at least 12 hours per day Essilor Stellest lenses can slow down myopia progression.

References

EssilorLuxottica data on file 2025. Myopia control efficacy of spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets: results of a 6-year follow-up study.
Zhang Z, Zeng L, Gu D, Wang B, Kang P, Watt K, Zhou J, Zhou X, Chen Z, Yang D, Chen C. Spectacle Lenses With Highly Aspherical Lenslets for Slowing Axial Elongation and Refractive Change in Low-Hyperopic Chinese Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2025 Jan 1;269:60-8
Bao J, Huang Y, Li X, Yang A, Zhou F, Wu J, Wang C, Li Y, Lim EW, Spiegel DP, Drobe B, Chen, H. Spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets for myopia control vs single-vision spectacle lenses: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA ophthalmology. 2022;140(5):472-8. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.0401.

Review of Myopia Management