New Delhi, India, April 28, 2026: Late last year, EssilorLuxottica announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted market authorization for its Essilor® Stellest® lens using the De Novo pathway. This follows the product’s earlier recognition with the FDA granting designation as a Breakthrough Technology in 2021. The Essilor® Stellest® lens is the first and only U.S. FDA market authorized spectacle lens to slow myopia progression in children4. The effectiveness of the Essilor® Stellest® lens is evidenced by clinical data showing that the lens slowed down myopia progression by 71% on average over two years.1,2
The sharp rise in myopia is a growing concern in India, with nearly 50% of urban children projected to be affected by 2050. With its legacy of clinical reliability, EssilorLuxottica aims to advance myopia care in India through FDA-approved innovations for slowing down of Myopia progression aligned with National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) & Healthcare Providers and global standards. By empowering doctors, parents, and institutions with internationally recognized, evidence-based myopia management, the goal is to transform the standard of care by making Essilor® Stellest® accessible to more children across India.
As eye testing is not mandatory in India there are many children that go undetected or uncorrected and it’s important for parents to include eye testing as part of their routine back to school checks. Myopia is not just a refractive error; it’s a disease which can progress – standard lenses can only correct myopia they cannot control its progression. It’s important therefore for parents to check yearly so that the child can see clearly.
EssilorLuxottica is prioritizing regions with high myopia awareness and early adoption potential, including Metro cities and emerging hubs like Pune, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Kochi.
Chandigarh. The expansion will gradually extend to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through optical ophthalmologists, optometrists, and optical networks and professional education programs.
Highlighting the approval, Dr Kunal Srivastava, Director Medical & Professional Affairs at EssilorLuxottica India said: “For decades, FDA approval has become synonymous with international standards of care in Indian medical practice. Doctors, hospitals, and patients often view FDA approval as the ultimate mark of clinical credibility. This lens technology evolves the traditional corrective lenses into a true medical treatment, and it marks the beginning of a new era for eyecare professionals in addressing myopia.”
Venu Ambati, President, India at EssilorLuxottica commented: “This is an extremely significant milestone for Essilor® Stellest® in India. It reinforces Essilor® Stellest® as the gold standard in myopia management, strengthening trust among doctors, parents, and institutions. Myopia progression in children requires timely and informed decisions; delaying intervention can have lifelong consequences for eye health. Essilor® Stellest® addresses this critical parental need by enabling myopia control at the right time, when progression is first detected. Backed by strong clinical evidence and US FDA market authorization, Essilor® Stellest® is not just a lens—it is an investment in a child’s future eye health. At a time when myopia is emerging as a global epidemic, this innovation represents a major milestone in our Group’s mission to empower families to take proactive control of their children’s visual health.”
EssilorLuxottica has been leading research in this field for more than four decades, culminating in the launch of the Essilor® Stellest® lens in key countries across the world, with the lens now being worn by millions of children. In line with EssilorLuxottica’s efforts to develop and deliver groundbreaking medical care technology to people around the world, the Essilor® Stellest® lens provides eyecare professionals with an evidence-backed, reliable solution for helping families address the challenges of myopia, improving both short-term and long-term eye health outcomes.
The myopia epidemic is a global health issue, with half the world population estimated to suffer from myopia by 2050 and childhood myopia progressing at a fast pace, with 740 million children who could be affected worldwide by 2050. Higher levels of myopia are frequently associated with severe eye pathologies later in life, hence the need to provide families with solutions not only to correct myopia but also slow its progression, thanks to dedicated spectacle lenses for example.
About EssilorLuxottica
EssilorLuxottica is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of advanced vision care products, eyewear and med-tech solutions. The Group is home to the most innovative lens technologies, including Varilux, Stellest and Transitions, iconic brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley and Supreme, top-selling smart eyewear products including Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta Vanguard and Nuance Audio, the most desired luxury licensed brands and world-class retailers including Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Vision Express and Apollo. With over 200,000 employees across 150 countries, 600 operations facilities, serving 300,000 eye care professionals and operating 18,000 stores, the Group generated consolidated revenue of Euro 28.5 billion in 2025. EssilorLuxottica trades on the Euronext Paris market and is included in the Euro Stoxx 50 and CAC 40 indices. Codes and symbols: ISIN: FR0000121667; Reuters: ESLX.PA; Bloomberg: EL:FP. www.essilorluxottica.com
