myopia Control with Stellest 2.0
What is Myopia?
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is the inability to see distant objects clearly. Nearsighted individuals see better near. Myopia is often the result of an elongated eye, measured as the axial length. Myopia results in light focusing in front of the retina. The retina is the photographic film at the back of the eye. Higher levels of myopia are associated with a higher risk of eye disease. Longer eyes are more susceptible to the following diseases:
The optics of myopia are seen below. Distant objects, such as street signs or chalkboards, are blurred.
What are the risk factors for developing myopia?
Parental myopia, myopic siblings, Asian ancestry, myopia that appears before the age of 7, rigorous academic pursuits (high near visual demands), particularly at younger ages, and limited outdoor activity all can be used to predict myopia and its progression to high myopia. Patients with high degrees of myopia experience a poorer quality of life than those with low to moderate myopia. Refractive surgery can also be affected, with outcomes generally better in patients with lower prescriptions. Myopia control therapy can help change the future of your child’s myopia progression and significantly reduce the risk of future visual impairment.
Stellest – H.A.L.T. Technology for Myopia Control
Stellest 2.0 Has Arrived!
New clinical data found that Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 lenses provide twice the signal, slowing eye growth in myopic children by 1.88 times more than the previous generation. Over 12 months, children wearing Stellest® 2.0 lenses showed an estimated 46 percent relative reduction in axial length change compared to those wearing THE first generation Stellest® lenses.
This spectacle lens is made up of a central clear optical zone for correcting myopia, with an outer band of defocus that helps control myopia progression. The lens makes use of the natural eye adjustment known as “emmetropisation”, where the eyeball shapes to receive focused images as it does for normal vision.
Thanks to the H.A.L.T.* technology, Stellest™ lenses slow down myopia progression by 67% on average, compared to single vision lenses, when worn 12 hours a day.*
Below is an image of the Stellest for Myopia Control. The lens is made of a cutting-edge constellation of 1021 invisible lenslets to create a neural signal in the child’s eye, acting as a protective shield against eye elongation. These lenses have equal adaptation and acceptance to standard single-vision lenses, with the benefit of slowing myopia progression in children. They offer a wide treatment zone while allowing for clear, crisp vision, even when viewed through the periphery.
Myopia Control Therapy is an investment in your child’s future eye health and well-being. With increased screen time at the expense of outdoor activities, myopia is growing at epidemic proportions. By 2050, half the world’s population, or 5 billion people, will be myopic. Several treatment options exist that have been found to diminish the eye’s axial lengthening and the corresponding myopia progression. After conducting a thorough vision and eye health assessment, Dr. Sciberras will determine the modalities best suited for successful compliance and myopia control. At times, more than one viable option exists, and the decision will be made after deliberate consultation between the doctor and parents. We are 100 percent committed to providing you with the best value in eye care and eyewear. We strive to provide all patients with clear, comfortable vision with the best lens technology and the most convenient modality for your child. We must make the science and research available to you to ensure long-term eye health for your child.
Early intervention through regular eye exams and myopia control therapy is the best way to maintain healthy eyes and vision preservation for your child.
To learn more about this topic, and to calculate your child’s future myopia based on their specific risk factors, visit www.MyKidsVision.org
To learn more about children’s vision and its importance to learning, click here.
Vision is a gift and should never be taken for granted. Dr. Sciberras can detect eye disease in asymptomatic patients and can identify risk factors for future eye disease. Some of the symptoms your child may display in the presence of myopia include frequent eye rubbing, squinting, sitting closer than normal for reading and viewing tasks, turning their head to the side, complaints of tired eyes, or inability to recognize signs or people from a distance.
Recommended Screen Time
- 0-2 years of age should have no screen time. Watching a screen at a young age can limit time for active play and learning, reduce opportunities for language development and inhibit their attention skills.
- Children aged 2-5 years should have a maximum of 1 hour per day. Infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers should not be inactive or sedentary for more than one hour at a time, except for sleeping. In this age group, excessive screen time is associated with less outdoor, creative and active play time; poorer language skill development; poor social skills and an increased risk of obesity.
- Children of school age (5-17 years) should be limited to 2 hours of recreational screen time per day. When using screen-based electronics, positive social interaction and experiences are encouraged. Sleep is also so important in this age group. Children aged 5-13 years should have an uninterrupted 9 to 11 hours of sleep per night and 8 to 10 hours per night for those aged 14–17 years. Consistent bed and wake-up times are very helpful, as are restricting screen time 2 hours before bed and removing screens from the bedroom where possible.
- Apply the 20-20 Rule: take a break from reading or screen time every 20 minutes for 20 seconds looking at something far away (say 20 feet). He or she should look across the room to relax the focusing muscles in the eyes before commencing near viewing. Closing your eyes for another 20 seconds could go a long way to relieving dry eye symptoms.
Book your child’s next eye exam here.
Your vision matters to us.
