Essilor announced that Essilor Stellest lenses have been named as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 in the Health & Wellness category.
The recognition marks an important milestone for Essilor Stellest lenses, a myopia management solution proven to slow myopia progression in children. * 1 It also reflects Essilor’s long-standing commitment to advancing vision science and bringing meaningful innovation to eye care professionals, children, and families.
Addressing the Growing Global Challenge of Childhood Myopia
For more than 175 years, Essilor has been dedicated to improving vision through research, innovation and partnerships across the eye care community. As childhood myopia continues to rise worldwide, and with nearly 5 billion people projected to be myopic by 2050 2, the need for early intervention and evidence-based management options has never been more important.
The TIME recognition comes just over one year after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted De Novo market authorization to Essilor Stellest lenses in September 2025, making them the first and only FDA market-authorized spectacle lenses in the U.S. to slow myopia progression in children. 3 The lenses also received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in 2021. 4
Leadership Perspective on Innovation and Long-Term Care
“Being recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of 2026 is a strong acknowledgment of Essilor’s innovation capabilities, embodied by Essilor Stellest,” said Arnaud Ribadeau Dumas, head of Product & Marketing Optical Categories at EssilorLuxottica. “Backed by more than 175 years of expertise in vision care, Essilor continues to support visual health through its network of partners and Essilor Experts. With Essilor Stellest, we are bringing families evidence-based innovation they can trust, helping them act early on childhood myopia and support children’s visual future, today and over the long term.”
Myopia is one of the fastest-growing vision challenges among children globally. Beyond the need for clear vision today, progressive myopia can have implications for long-term eye health, making regular eye exams and professional guidance essential.
The inclusion of Essilor Stellest lenses in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 underscores the growing global focus on childhood myopia and the important role of the eye care industry in helping families act earlier.
For more information about Essilor Stellest: visit https://www.essilor.com/ca-en/products/stellest/
Footnote:
Essilor® Stellest® lens regulatory status and product availability may vary by country. Data presented may be derived from one or more clinical studies. U.S. FDA authorization and indications for use are based solely on clinical trial data from the U.S. *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.
1 Shen J, et al. Spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets for myopia control: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA ophthalmology. 2026 Aug 20.
2 Holden BA, et al. Global prevalence of myopia and high myopia and temporal trends from 2000 through 2050. Ophthalmology. 2016 May 1;123(5):1036-42.
3 US. FDA. Authorizes marketing of first eyeglass lenses to slow progression of paediatric myopia. Sep 2025. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-marketing-first-eyeglass-lenses-slow-progression-pediatric-myopia
4 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Device designation to the Essilor® Stellest® spectacle lens in April 2021
