Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Stellest Lens Wear in Adult Progressing Myopes

This study is investigating if special glasses lenses, called Essilor Stellest, can help slow down worsening short-sightedness (myopia) in adults aged 18 to 40. Normally, short-sightedness is thought to stop getting worse in teenage years, but some adults do find their vision continues to change. Every increase in short-sightedness can raise the risk of certain eye problems later in life. These Stellest lenses have been shown to help children with their short-sightedness, so researchers want to see if they can also benefit adults. The study will look at how well these new lenses work compared to standard glasses lenses over a two-year period, providing important information for adults experiencing progressive short-sightedness.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Ulster

Enrolment target

Start

17 Oct 2024

Estimated completion

30 Dec 2027

Myopia, Progressive

What is this study about?

Short-sightedness, also known as myopia, usually starts in childhood and can get worse as you grow up. While it’s often expected to settle down in your late teens, some adults find that their short-sightedness continues to worsen, even into their 20s and 30s. This can be concerning because every increase in how short-sighted you are can slightly raise your risk of developing more serious eye problems in the future.

Researchers are investigating whether special glasses lenses, called Essilor Stellest lenses, which are designed to help slow down short-sightedness in children, could also be helpful for adults. This study aims to find out if these lenses can effectively reduce the progression of short-sightedness in adults aged between 18 and 40 years old. If successful, this could offer a new way for adults who are experiencing worsening vision to manage their condition.

The findings from this study are really important because they will give us new information about whether these lenses can benefit adults. Currently, most studies on these types of lenses have focused on children, so this research will fill a gap in our understanding and could potentially lead to better ways to protect adult eye health in the long run.

Key takeaways

Study looks at special glasses lenses (Stellest) for adults.
Aims to slow down worsening short-sightedness in adults aged 18-40.
Involves wearing different lenses in each eye for two years, with a swap halfway.
Could offer new ways to manage adult short-sightedness and protect eye health.
Participants need to have shown a recent increase in their short-sightedness.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, people must be aged between 18 and 40 years old. Their short-sightedness needs to be at least -0.75 dioptres when measured after special eye drops are used. They also can't have too much astigmatism (another common vision problem) or a big difference in short-sightedness between their two eyes. Importantly, they must have evidence that their short-sightedness has gotten worse by at least 0.50 dioptres over the last two years.

There are also some reasons why someone might not be able to join. For instance, if they have previously used other treatments specifically designed to slow down short-sightedness (apart from regular glasses or contact lenses) or if they have any other eye conditions or general health problems that could affect their vision or how their short-sightedness develops.

The study is open to both men and women who meet these criteria.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 40 years old?
Has your short-sightedness gotten worse by at least 0.50 dioptres in the last two years?
Do you have a specific level of short-sightedness (at least -0.75 dioptres)?
Have you *not* used other special treatments for short-sightedness before (other than regular glasses/contacts)?
Do you have no other eye diseases or serious health conditions?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you'll be participating for two years. For the first year, you'll wear a special Stellest lens in front of one eye and a standard single-vision lens in front of the other eye. You won't know which eye has which lens at first, and this will be decided by chance. After 12 months, the lenses will be swapped, so the eye that had the Stellest lens will then get the standard lens, and vice versa, for another 12 months.

You'll be asked to wear your study glasses for at least 12 hours a day, six days a week. During the study, you shouldn't use any other special glasses or contact lenses meant to manage short-sightedness. You'll have several appointments: a screening visit at the start to make sure you meet all the requirements, and then follow-up visits at 6 months and 12 months. At these visits, your eyes will be checked, including taking measurements of your vision and the length of your eye after using special drops to temporarily blur your close-up vision.

At the very beginning, your eyes will be thoroughly checked by an eye specialist, including taking pictures of the back of your eye and looking at the front of your eye with a special microscope, just to make sure your eyes are healthy. At the end of the two years, you'll have the choice to continue wearing Stellest lenses in both eyes, or go back to standard glasses, depending on what the study results show.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could potentially offer the benefit of slowing down the worsening of your short-sightedness, which in the long term, might help reduce risks of certain eye problems. You'd also be contributing to valuable research that could help many other adults in the future. As for risks, temporary blurred vision and sensitivity to light are possible after the eye drops used for measurements. There's also the commitment required to wear the specific study glasses for a set amount of time. You are completely free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Ulster University
Verified postcode
Coleraine, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is 'myopia progression'?

It means your short-sightedness is getting worse, and you need stronger glasses to see clearly in the distance.

What are Stellest lenses?

They are special glasses lenses designed with rings that help slow down how quickly short-sightedness gets worse.

Will I know which eye has which lens?

No, at the start of the study, it will be randomly decided which eye gets the special lens first, and you won't know.

How long do I need to wear the glasses each day?

You'll be asked to wear the study glasses for at least 12 hours a day, 6 days a week.

What happens after the two-year study?

You'll have the option to continue with the special lenses in both eyes or switch back to regular lenses, based on the study's results.