For your eyes only: A spectacle lens for driving – Lifestyle News

Carl Zeiss, the German optical systems company, has launched a lens that is claimed to provide almost perfect vision in dark, rainy or misty conditions. We talked to Rohan Paul, business head, Vision Care, Carl Zeiss India, to understand what differentiates the Zeiss DriveSafe lenses from regular spectacles lenses.

Do drivers who wear spectacles really need a special lens?

Till now, even the best lenses weren’t able to give you almost perfect vision in dark, rainy or misty conditions. A large number of traffic accidents happen at night, and a global study has shown that 83% of spectacle wearers use cars, so there has to be some connection between the two. The same study has shown that 72% of spectacle wearers who use cars want a single pair of spectacles to provide an everyday solution that can also cope with the special challenges of driving.

This led us to create the Zeiss DriveSafe lenses.

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How are these different from regular lenses?

These are better than any lens, and I’ll give you four reasons:

Reduced glare: They have an antireflective coating that reduces blue light exposure of the eye caused by modern headlights. The Zeiss DuraVision DriveSafe antireflective coating has been designed for a light transmission spectrum that reduces discomfort glare in the presence of Xenon/HID and LED headlights.

Enhanced contrast: The antireflective coating enhances contrast and clarity, improving your ability to see objects on the road, pedestrians and road signs.

Design for digital devices: Most modern cars come with bright touchscreens on the dashboard. Zeiss DriveSafe lenses don’t impact your vision even during quick shifts between the road and digital devices like GPS or dashboard screens. The design (for progressive lenses) incorporates up to 43% larger mid-distance zone for easier focus, switching between the dashboard and mirrors. And up to 14% larger far-distance vision zone for a wider view of the road.

One lens for all purposes: These can be customised to your individual prescription, ensuring optimal vision correction tailored to your eyes. This means that one lens solves multiple purposes.

Are these scratch-proof?

Yes, these come with a scratch-resistant antireflective coating, and also in tinted variants.

What is the price difference between regular Zeiss lenses and Zeiss DriveSafe lenses?

These are customised to individual prescription, lifestyle and preferences. Price depends upon what a customer wants.

Would you suggest people to buy two pair of lenses: DriveSafe for driving and regular for everyday use?

No, DriveSafe lenses can be used all the time. Because these are made for bright car touchscreens and oncoming headlights, these also work very well watching TV or working on a laptop. In fact, their design is tailored to relieve specific head-eye movements. For progressive lenses additional optimised vision zones allow for quick transition in the intermediate zone and provide the wearer with appropriate near vision for typical tasks in all day life. Taking all these factors into account, the DriveSafe designs enhance the possibility of comfortable, unstressed driving and are entirely suitable for all-day use for all kinds of activities.

What about UV protection?

You don’t need dark lenses to protect your eyes against ultraviolet radiation. We’ve developed a technology that provides full UV protection even on a clear lens. These have an invisible coating that block UV rays up to 400 nm wavelength.

Would you claim that all other things being equal, a driver wearing a DriveSafe lens is safer on the road than a driver wearing a regular lens?

The discomfort glare is often attributable to the spread of modern headlights and to the fact that the driver’s sight is changed because their eyes have to adapt to dusk and darkness and they ‘see differently’.

We’ve conducted successful wearer trials to compare the effectiveness of Zeiss DriveSafe lenses while driving (factors that were assessed included overall satisfaction while driving, driving in the dark and twilight, dynamic vision in near, intermediate and far vision, perception of colours, and dazzle from headlights), and found that 97% of test subjects were satisfied with these lenses when driving, 94% were satisfied while doing everyday tasks (including working on a laptop for hours).

Do doctors/ophthalmologists recommend such lenses?

Whether doctors or ophthalmologists recommend wearing Zeiss DriveSafe lenses can vary depending on individual patient needs and preferences. These professionals consider various factors, such as a patient’s prescription, lifestyle and specific visual challenges, when making recommendations for eyewear.

Ziess has multiple lenses such as SmartLife, BlueGuard, Digital, DriveSafe, and so on. Can’t there be one lens that does it all?

We offer a range of specialised lens solutions; each designed to address specific visual challenges and meet the unique needs of individuals in different situations. This allows customers to choose lenses that best suit their specific lifestyle and visual requirements.

Tips for better vision when driving

1. Poor vision poses one of the greatest safety risks when driving. Drivers should have their eyes regularly tested by opticians or ophthalmologists.

2. Wide frames can help you look through a larger viewing range.

3. When driving in a convertible with the top down (or cycling), wrapped lenses are best, as these offer ideal wind protection.

4. Sunglass lenses with a polarisation filter reduce irritating glare caused by light and reflections.

5. Lenses (and lens coatings) don’t tolerate extremely high or low temperatures. So, don’t leave these in the car.