For many children, the experience of getting their first pair of glasses is an inevitable milestone and the first trip to the eye doctor in their lives.
But what if these lenses could actually help protect your child’s vision and reduce the chance of more serious eye problems in adulthood?
That’s the promise of a new lens approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September. While the technology has previously been available in Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, it’s now being rolled out in the U.S.
Here’s what you need to know about the new approach.
What is myopia? Why is myopia increasing?
Myopia, often called myopia, is a condition in which people can see close objects clearly, but distant objects tend to appear blurry or unclear.
Studies conducted around the world show rising rates of myopia, which researchers believe are linked to increased time spent indoors looking at screens, books and other objects close to the eyes.
In the United States, 30 to 40 percent of children will have myopia by the time they graduate from high school, said Dr. Michael Repka, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a pediatric ophthalmologist.
Until now, doctors have had few options for treating the disease.
“It’s typical and simple: ‘Your child needs glasses and they’ll live with it,'” Repka said. “This is going to be lifelong and it’s likely to get worse over the next few years.”
How does the new lens work?
The specialized glasses, sold under the brand name Essilor Stellest, are FDA-approved to slow myopia in children ages 6 to 12.
The FDA said it approved the lenses after the company’s data showed a 70% reduction in progression of myopia in children after two years.
Over time, myopia can cause the eyes to grow longer, worsen vision, and increase the risk of tears in the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that is critical for vision).
The new lens uses 11 concentric rings filled with tiny raised dots to refocus light onto the retina in a way that is thought to slow the elongation of the eye.
“Whether that hypothesis turns out to be correct, of course, is only partially important,” Repka said, noting that these lenses appear to work regardless of how the underlying science works.
In the company’s study, children who wore the lenses were measured two years later and found a 50 percent reduction in eye length. Currently, researchers in the United States and other countries are conducting their own independent studies to confirm these results.
Ophthalmologists say the potential benefits go beyond protecting vision and preventing some of the long-term consequences of severe myopia, including cataracts, glaucoma and retinal detachment that can lead to blindness.
“Now that we have ways to slow this down, maybe we can prevent kids from having their eyes grow so long that they’re at risk for blindness,” said Dr. Rupa Wong, a pediatric ophthalmologist in Honolulu.
How much do lenses cost?
According to reports, the suggested retail price is US$450 Essilor Luxotticaa company that manufactures lenses.
Major U.S. vision insurance providers are expected to offer lens coverage for children who meet prescription criteria.
How do new lenses compare to old lenses?
The only FDA-approved product to slow myopia is a contact lens made by MiSight. Daily disposable lenses approved in 2019 take a similar approach and are designed to slow the progression of myopia in children ages 8 to 12.
But Gupta said many parents and doctors may prefer the glasses.
“Many people may be hesitant to have children as young as eight years old wear contact lenses, so glasses provide a very good alternative,” she said.
Some doctors prescribe medicated eye drops to slow myopia, but these drops are not FDA-approved.
Which children are good candidates?
Under the FDA’s approval decision, any myopic child within the recommended age range can wear contact lenses. According to the FDA, there have been no serious side effects, although some children have reported visual disturbances, such as halos around objects when wearing the lenses.
The studies reviewed and approved by the FDA were conducted in Asia. U.S. ophthalmologists and optometrists may want to see some additional research, Repka said.
“I think we need to have some data in the U.S.” proving the lens’s effectiveness before it becomes widely available, Repka said. He is conducting a study of the new lenses with support from the National Institutes of Health.
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