Essilor’s latest innovation in the myopia-control space, spectacle lens Stellest 2.0, is now available in New Zealand.

Gina Partridge, optometrist director of the Auckland Myopia Clinic, said she is excited to add Stellest 2.0 to her myopia toolkit. “Using highly aspherical lenslet target (HALT) MAX technology, Stellest 2.0 increases the power and asphericity of the lenslets, providing twice the signal and slowing myopic eye growth even further compared to the first-generation lens. One study showed that Stellest 2.0 is 1.88 times more effective at slowing axial elongation compared to the Stellest lens.”

The new lens is also available in a larger blank size (75mm), making it suitable for larger frame styles, which benefits older teenagers and young adults who may still be progressing, Partridge said. “Since Stellest is available in low plus and astigmatism combinations, we have also been prescribing it early to ‘pre-myopes’ who benefit from both astigmatism correction and management of their low hyperopic reserve.

“However, with the increased volume of defocus causing increased efficacy in management, combination treatment with atropine drops may not be needed in this particularly vulnerable group,” she said.