On Sept. 25, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of the first eyeglass lenses to help slow the
progression of myopia.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a condition where an individual can see objects close up clearly, but has difficulty seeing distant objects. Distant objects seem blurry while near objects are clear.
Factors such as genetics, spending long periods focusing on near objects, and not spending enough time outdoors can all contribute to whether an individual develops myopia. Trauma to the eye, abnormal eye growth, and medical conditions such as diabetes can also contribute to myopia.
Myopia progresses the fastest from childhood to adolescence and stabilizes in the late teen and adult years. This is because Myopia worsens primarily when the eye is still growing and developing.
Even though progression stabilizes by adulthood, many individuals already have an extremely high prescription by the time they are adults. In addition, nearsightedness cannot improve; it can only worsen.
This leads to a great number of children and adults suffering from severe myopia.
The newly approved lens, Essilor Stellest, not only corrects nearsightedness but also helps to slow the rapid progression of myopia. According to clinical research, the Essilor Stellest lens can slow the progression of myopia by about 71 percent over the course of two years.
The glasses are primarily going to be marketed towards youth, particularly individuals from the ages of six to 12, since this age range is the critical period during which myopia most quickly progresses.
According to the National Eye Institute, the prevalence of myopia in the United States population is rising and is projected to continue rising. Currently, around 30 to 40 percent of adults have myopia.
For children, it is estimated that more than one-third of children in the US suffer from myopia. Being able to be prescribed these lenses can truly make a difference in a child’s prescription.
However, to fully experience the effects of the lens, the effort goes past being prescribed and owning the glasses.
When prescribed, the wear time of the lenses is extremely crucial. The greater the amount of time the individual wears the lenses, the greater the effect.
The glasses are most effective in slowing the progression of nearsightedness when they are worn for 12 or more hours every day.
This is why it is vital for parents of patients to ensure that their children are consistently wearing their glasses.
These lenses are especially significant because they are the first spectacle lenses in the United States that are authorized to help with myopia control.
These new eyeglasses could be the key to reducing the large population of adults who suffer from myopia.
By taking preventative measures when individuals are young and their eyes are still developing, we may be able to minimize adults choosing to undergo corrective surgeries later on, such as laser eye surgery, to correct their vision.