New—ZEISS DriveSafe

For many drivers, the greatest visual problems come in low light situations (mesopic conditions like cloudy/rainy days and twilight). Eyeglasses have never been designed to account for the size of the pupil in these conditions. As a result, space perception and distance calculation can be especially difficult when driving.
ZEISS conducted intensive research into mesopic vision in developing Luminance Design Technology.* Standard lenses are designed using single-ray tracing, which does not account for pupil size. This can result in a lens that does not offer optimal clarity, especially when the pupil size is larger in low light conditions.

^{*For more information please refer to the ZEISS DriveSafe White Paper}

DriveSafe lenses address this problem with Luminance Design Technology (LDT). LDT incorporates the pupil size for driving in mesopic conditions and optimizes the lens design accordingly.

As a result, wearers have better vision all day, especially in low light conditions.

Glare describes the difficulty of seeing in bright light, such as direct sunlight or artificial light. Market research and scientific evidence both indicate that perceived glare in traffic is linked in particular to LED and Xenon HID light sources as used in modern car lighting technology. Intense glare can be a risk, as it reduces the visibility of objects and sensitivity of the eye to contrast. Glare also can be subjectively perceived as discomfort and irritation.

ZEISS vision science researchers carried out glare experiments. These formed the basis of internal studies** using different coating simulations. Scientific evidence shows that the blueish, high-energy part of the visible spectrum (in particular in the 440–470 nm range) using LED or Xenon H.I.D. (High Intensity Discharge) technology is linked to a glare effect perceived by drivers.

_{**Compared to premium ZEISS coatings. With DuraVision DriveSafe 64% less test drivers reported issues with glare with the new coating than with other premium AR coatings.}

DuraVision DriveSafe coating reduces glare by reflecting the most harmful wavelengths from Xenon and LED headlights. ZEISS DriveSafe is preferred by patients for headlight glare reduction by more than 2 to 1.  

Driving demands a high level of attention. Drivers need a wide, clear view of the road in order to evaluate traffic conditions, but they also need to shift rapidly from the road to the dashboard and mirrors. This can be especially challenging for progressive lens wearers.

ZEISS conducted an eye-tracking study with automotive research institute FKFS* at Germany’s University of Stuttgart. This study precisely mapped the actual visual behavior of drivers to determine what areas of vision were needed the most.  

_{*FKFS Research Institute of Automotive Engineering and Vehicle Engines Stuttgart is an independent foundation associated with the University of Stuttgart. Founded in 1930, FKFS has become one of the largest and leading research institutes in the field of automotive engineering, serving major automobile manufacturers and suppliers. For more information please refer to the ZEISS DriveSafe White Paper.} 

Using this data, ZEISS designed the DriveSafe Progressive with optimized distance and intermediate viewing zones, reducing the need for horizontal head movement.  

• Dynamic vision for fast refocusing from the road to the dashboard and mirrors
• Near vision suitable for all day wear  

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.

_{**Compared to ZEISS premium progressive lenses}