Press Release

ZEISS Makes Car Driving Safer

The new all-day ZEISS DriveSafe eyeglass lenses provide wearers with
more safety through better vision in challenging driving conditions

Aalen, October 1, 2015 - - - Most spectacle wearers are also car drivers and
experience discomfort or vision impairment when it gets dark, rainy or misty.
The disproportionately large number of traffic accidents after nightfall shows
their concerns are justified. 83% of spectacle wearers use cars and the vast
majority (72%) of them are interested in having a single pair of spectacles to
provide an everyday solution that can also cope with the special challenges of
driving. Car-driving spectacle wearers feel discomfort, especially in rain (94%),
at dusk (88%), at night (76%) and in fog (74%) [1].
ZEISS DriveSafe lenses are designed to maximise safety and comfort for car-
driving spectacle wearers and can nevertheless be used all day. A new
premium coating and a state-of-the art lens design technology make this
possible. The new lenses address the major challenges facing spectacle
wearers while driving in difficult light and weather conditions, resulting from dim
light, fog or rain.

More safety with modern car headlamps. But also more discomfort glare
for oncoming drivers
The discomfort glare is very 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”. High-intensity
discharge (HID/Xenon) and LED headlamps are brighter and provide better
road lighting. Drivers appreciate the increased visibility of their surroundings
provided by these lamps. But the increasing prevalence of vehicles with these
new headlamps has led to complaints about glare from oncoming cars.
The severity of the discomfort glare grows in general as the brightness of these
light sources and its influence on the visual system increase. Discomfort glare
is a matter of subjective perception and seems to be dependent on the spectral
composition of the source of glare.
The ZEISS DuraVision DriveSafe antireflective coating has been designed for a
light transmission spectrum that optimises protection against discomfort glare in
the presence of Xenon/ HID and LED headlights.

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To assess the effectiveness of the ZEISS DuraVision DriveSafe coating versus
two other premium ZEISS anti-reflective coatings, a study compared its efficacy
for visual comfort while being subjected to glare and for perceived glare under
controlled setup conditions. ZEISS DriveSafe Coating was strongly preferred by
almost 50% of test subjects over the alternative coatings, and was seen as
being “most comfortable in order to see the low-contrast optotype while being
glared with the white light LED setup” [2]. The new coating was rated best for
“least perceived glare” compared to the other premium AR coatings.
Although the new coating can reduce perceived glare by reducing a portion of
the visible spectrum, it still ensures maximum ability to see the surrounding
environment for safe night driving. Like the ZEISS DuraVision Platinum coating,
the lenses coated with DriveSafe are very robust, dirt-resistant and easy to
clean while offering first-rate anti-reflective properties.

The challenge of complex visual tasks while driving

Driving presents a complex and changing set of requirements, may it be varying
light or weather conditions. Drivers must contend with a rapidly alternating set
of circumstances that require them to constantly redirect their attention.
There are only a few other situations in daily life with similar high demand for
dynamic vision like driving a car. So even for single vision lenses, but
particularly with progressive lenses, it is important to map the distribution of
optical power in a spectacle lens to the spatial and temporal composition of the
environment and tasks.
One requirement is the view of the road ahead to anticipate future turns and
any required acceleration or stopping. Another is peripheral awareness of
spatial location within traffic flow as well as the detection of potential threats
posed by other drivers or road hazards. Yet another is the information
presented in multiple visual displays on the instrumentation panel both straight-
ahead and to the side. These requirements are compounded by the need to
check several mirrors in order to remain aware of traffic that is approaching
from behind.
The dynamics of the vision process while driving include changes of gaze
direction, convergence and accommodation. Both the focus of attention and the
visual dynamics are powerful influences on driving safety [3].
To better understand the requirements for dynamic vision while driving a car,
ZEISS commissioned a study by the Research Institute of Automotive
Engineering and Vehicle Engines Stuttgart (FKFS) using a modified car in a
real world course. The setup included head and eye tracking systems to
observe drivers’ visual behaviour.

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The study found that drivers focus on the road ahead and distant moving
objects about 97% of the time, look at the dashboard 2% of the time and
alternate viewing dynamically between the several rear-view mirrors 1% of the
time [4].
In the visual dynamics of driving, head and eye movements interact and are
coordinated. Progressive lens wearers need to move their heads more than
single vision wearers do in order to avoid zones that do not provide the correct
addition power for the task or that have higher levels of aberration. A further
finding of ZEISS’s research is that the closest object viewed on the instrument
panel is approximately 50-75 cm away from the driver’s eye. This implies that
while driving, the near zone of a progressive lens, designed for a much closer
distance, is virtually unused.
The new ZEISS DriveSafe lens design was established to provide excellent
visual dynamics. Therefore the lens design is optimized for adjusted pupil size
as well as for uncompromised distance vision. Because quick glances at the
instrument panel are essential for accurate information, the entire ZEISS
DriveSafe design is tailored to relieve the specific head-eye-movements. For
progressive lenses additional optimized 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.

Luminance Design Technology to tackle the illumination challenge

For several decades it has been sufficient to calculate the aberrations of
spectacles by following a “chief ray” at any point. In effect, this means that the
traditional calculation assumed that the pupil has an infinite small diameter. The
ZEISS Luminance Design Technology overcomes limitations of the traditional
appraoch which ignore a natural pupil size. The new method of lens
computation optimizes dioptric powers using the entire beam of light passing
through the pupil. The Luminance Design Technology was recently introduced
for ZEISS progressive lens designs and is now also available for ZEISS
DriveSafe lenses.
The result is a smoothening of dioptric microstructures for the moving eye that
leads to improvement of overall clarity compared to traditional methods. For
progressive lenses this optimization ensures a smooth transition from central to
peripheral vision zones of the lens.
By studying the daily activities of spectacle lens wearers and using published
research to establish pupil size at various levels of illumination, ZEISS has
been able to determine the range of pupil sizes for specific activities. Based on

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the average proportion of time spent performing each type of activity, a pupil
diameter of 5mm and 4.3mm for single vision lenses and progressive lenses
respectively, was chosen for optimization of ZEISS DriveSafe lenses.
The Luminance Design Technology represents the latest innovation by ZEISS
to advance the precision of spectacle lens design. By considering the vision
needs of wearers in varying light conditions, it optimizes ZEISS DriveSafe for
continuous wear, ensuring clarity in both bright and low light conditions.

Test wearers confirm high satisfaction with ZEISS DriveSafe

Wearer trials [5] were conducted to compare the effectiveness and acceptance
of ZEISS DriveSafe lenses in a driving scenario. The trials reveal very high
satisfaction levels for the new lenses. The 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. 97% of the test subjects were satisfied with the new lenses when
driving, 94% doing everyday tasks, e.g. work in the office.

References:
(1) ZEISS data on file. Market research study (August 2013) with ECPs & consumers with 480 participants
in USA and Germany
(2) Niedenzu, Laura; Spektrale Einflüsse auf Blendung im Straßenverkehr im Zusammenhang mit
Brillenglasbeschichtungen, Cal Zeiss Vision, HTW Aalen, 2014 (ZEISS study with 50 subjects, 2014)
(3) Underwood, G.; Chapman, P.; Brocklhurst, N.; Underwood, J.; Crundall, D., Visual attention while
driving: Sequences of eye fixations made by experienced and novice drivers, Ergonomics, 46, 629-646,
2003
(4) Study by ZEISS Vision Science Lab, Tuebingen, and Research Institute of Automotive Engineering
and Vehicle Engines Stuttgart (FKFS). Data from 44 subjects was recorded totalling more than 33 hours
net driving time.
(5) Internal wearer trial (ZEISS, Germany in 2014) with 50 subjects; and external wearer trials with 72 eye
care professionals and consumers (Spain, 2014)

DuraVision ®, Luminance Design ® , i.Scription™ are registered trademarks of Carl Zeiss Vision GmbH.

Press contact
Vision Care
Joachim Kuss
Phone +49 151 42112288
E-Mail: joachim.kuss@zeiss.com

www.zeiss.com/press
www.zeiss.com/vision-news

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ZEISS Vision Care
ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise As one of the world's leading manufacturers, the Vision Care
operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries. business group combines ophthalmic expertise and solutions
ZEISS develops and distributes lithography optics, with an international brand. The business group develops and
measuring technology, microscopes, medical technology, produces instruments and offerings for the entire eyeglass
eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and value chain. In fiscal year 2013/14 the business group
planetarium technology. With its solutions, the company generated revenue of 761 million euros with around 8,300
constantly advances the world of optics and helps shape employees.
technological progress. The company is divided up into the
six business groups Industrial Metrology, Microscopy,
Medical Technology, Vision Care, Consumer Optics and
Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. ZEISS is
represented in over 40 countries – with around 30
production sites, over 50 sales and service locations and
about 25 research and development facilities. In fiscal year
2013/14 the company generated revenue approximating 4.3
billion euros with just under 25,000 employees. Founded in
1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in
Oberkochen, Germany. Carl Zeiss AG is the strategic
management holding company that manages the ZEISS
Group. The company is wholly owned by the Carl Zeiss
Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation). Further information at
www.zeiss.com

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