Childhood myopia is increasing at a rapid rate, with no signs of slowing. Today, more than one-third of Americans have myopia and eye health experts estimate that half of the world’s population could be affected by 2050. What was once a routine refractive error is now considered a global eye health concern, with major implications for long-term vision and overall wellness.¹

As myopia cases rise, so does the need for accessible, proven myopia-management solutions. And now, the first and only FDA market authorized spectacle lens proven to slow the progression of myopia is available—Essilor^® Stellest^® lens.²

In our latest whitepaper, we dive into the rise of myopia, emerging treatment innovations, and how EyeMed supports proactive vision care.

What is myopia?

Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, occurs when close objects appear clear but distant objects look blurry. It develops when the eye grows too long from front to back or when the cornea is overly curved, causing light to focus in front of (rather than directly on) the retina.³

Myopia typically begins in childhood and can be driven by both genetic and environmental factors. Children with one or more myopic parents have a substantially higher risk, especially when combined with unfavorable environmental factors.⁴ Today’s lifestyle factors, such as increased screen time, prolonged near work, and limited outdoor exposure are also contributing to the condition’s rapid acceleration.⁵

Why myopia progression is a problem

While glasses can correct blurry distance vision, they don’t stop the underlying growth of the eye. That’s why unchecked myopia progression may increase the risk of serious eye conditions later in life, including:

• cataracts
• retinal detachment
• glaucoma
• myopic maculopathy⁶

Myopia that begins earlier in childhood, particularly before age 10, is associated with faster progression, underscoring the importance of early detection and timely intervention.⁷  

With nearly 5 billion people expected to be myopic by 2050, world health organizations now consider myopia to be an epidemic.⁸

Download whitepaper

Introducing Stellest lenses

Stellest lenses represent a new generation of myopia-control technology. Designed to correct vision and slow the progression of myopia, Stellest provides a non-invasive, easily managed option for children and families seeking long-term eye health support.

Backed by more than 30 years of research, Stellest lenses use H.A.L.T. technology.⁹ a constellation of aspherical lenslets arranged in 11 rings that work together to create a “volume of signal” shown to slow axial eye elongation. In clinical studies, Stellest lenses achieved a 71% average slowdown in myopia progression over two years when worn consistently.¹⁰

And as myopia rates rise, employers are increasingly looking for ways to support family eye health and reduce future vision-related risks.  

How EyeMed helps families afford Stellest

For many families, Stellest lenses offer an alternative that is easier to manage than other myopia treatment such as contact lenses or atropine eye drops, especially for young children.

EyeMed covers Stellest lenses under the member’s standard lens benefit and applies a 20% discount to the myopia-management component of the lens. This helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for families seeking this advanced technology.

With EyeMed’s broad provider network, it’s easy for members to find eye doctors who offer Stellest lenses and begin treatment early, when it can make the greatest long-term impact. EyeMed also supports proactive eye care through annual eye exams and preventive wellness programs, helping ensure children receive the monitoring and care they need as their eyes develop.

By making Stellest lenses accessible and affordable, EyeMed is helping families take a proactive approach to one of the fastest-growing eye health concerns of our time, while also giving employers a way to stay ahead in the vision benefits conversation.

Want to learn more about EyeMed vision benefits or request a quote? Speak with your EyeMed rep. Or visit, eyemed.com.  

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1. Stix, G.; “The Nearsightedness Epidemic Has Become a Global Health Issue”; Scientific American; scientificamerican.com; October 1, 2024.
2. Compared to single vision lenses. Results from a prospective, randomized, double-masked, multicenter U.S. clinical trial in myopic children aged 6–12 years at initiation of treatment. Essilor International, data on file, 2025.
3. "Nearsightedness (Myopia)"; National Eye Institute; nei.nih.gov; December 4, 2024.
4. Hao, J.; “Crosstalk between Heredity and Environment in Myopia: An Overview”; Heliyon; heliyon.org; April 30, 2024.
5. Xie, S.; “Effects of genetic factors and visual behaviors on interventions for myopia prevention and control in children; a systematic review and meta-analysis”; Translational Pediatrics; tp.amegroups.org; July 28, 2025.
6. "Pathologic Myopia Prevention Requires Axial Slowing"; Optometry Advisor; optometryadvisor.com; April 5, 2024.
7. “Myopia is an escalating global health crisis”; Optometry Times; optometrytimes.com; September 1, 2025.
8. Ming, Y.; “Global Burden of Myopia: Current Status and Future Projections”; Frontiers in Public Health; frontiersin.org; February 2024.
9. H.A.L.T.: Highly Aspherical Lenslet Target does not imply a “halt” or “stop” of myopia progression.  
10. “Data on File: U.S. Clinical Trial Comparing Stellest to Single Vision Lenses in Myopic Children Aged 6–12 Years”; Essilor International; essilor.com; 2025.
11. EyeMed and Stellest are owned by the same ultimate parent company, EssilorLuxottica.