I was in my mid 30’s when I needed my first pair of glasses. I had returned to full-time work after having children and was getting headaches from looking at a computer screen all day. Someone suggested I have my eyes checked, so I took that advice and did have them checked. Would you believe it – I needed glasses! And so it began! All these years later (let’s not get into the details of how many years) and multiple pairs of glasses later, I now not only need glasses for reading and computer work but also for distance.
I’ll let you in on a little secret that I haven’t told anyone except family (you should feel very special indeed)! Over the last year or so, I have avoided driving at night. A little bit of local night driving I could cope with but certainly not anything that required driving further afield. You see, I just don’t feel confident enough because I find all the various lights and glare distracting and disorientating. If it is raining as well that makes it even worse.
I am not alone with my concerns. Recent research confirms that three out of four Australian drivers (75%) have trouble seeing while driving. Vision issues are most likely to occur when driving in bad weather (46%), driving at night with oncoming headlights (43%) and driving at sunrise or sunset (31%).
Though I’ve had a pair of glasses for distance and more recently a new, and first ever, graduated lens (distance at top, reading at bottom) to use for night driving (amongst other things), they have not been sufficient enough that I have felt a return of confidence with my vision for night driving.
So, when I was asked if I was interested in writing about ZEISS DriveSafe Lenses – a new, first-of-kind and innovative glasses lens designed to provide optimal vision, particularly in difficult or challenging driving conditions, delivering enhanced vision of road, mirrors and dashboard and reduced night glare – you can understand why my interest was piqued!
Check out these three very short videos! Look at the difference with glare and lights WITHOUT the lens compared to WITH the lens.
Did you see the remarkable difference? Wondering how the lenses work? Here’s some facts:
- The DriveSafe range has been designed through state of the art technology for everyday use but with the benefit of being optimised for drivers, specifically:
- Providing protection from the discomfort of glare through a unique anti-reflective coating especially designed for a light transmission spectrum that minimises discomfort from glare in the presence of Xenon / HID and LED headlights.
- Through bespoke illumination technology which takes into account the vision needs of wearers in varying light conditions, and optimises for continuous wear, ensuring clarity in both bright and low light conditions.
- Through the ability to provide superior visual dynamics – i.e. responsive to quick head and neck movements when changing gaze (e.g. from mirrors to dashboard to distance) as the lens design is optimised for adjusted pupil size as well as for uncompromised distance vision.
- DriveSafe lenses address the major challenges facing glasses wearers while driving in difficult light and weather conditions, resulting from dim light, fog or rain.
- In an international study the DriveSafe lens coating was strongly preferred by almost 50% of test subjects over 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.
- 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.
- Wearer trials reveal 97% of test subjects were satisfied with the new lenses when driving, while 94% noted satisfaction doing everyday tasks, e.g. work in the office.
I was gifted a pair of ZEISS DriveSafe lenses and some new frames and have been wearing them on my early morning drives, in the dark, to the waterfront for my sunrise walks. Each time that I have worn them I have been amazed! They are a huge improvement on anything I have worn previously. With them on, I’ve felt better able to judge distance then with previous glasses worn for night driving. I’ve noticed a reduction in lights and glare causing me disorientation and I’ve felt much more confident driving in the dark than I have in a long time. As an additional bonus, I have not seen the TV so clearly in a long time and I look forward to wearing them to the theatre when I next go with my girlfriend. Wins all around! Yeah baby!!
Thank you to OPTIKO – where I obtained my personalised prescription pair of DriveSafe glasses. Not only is OPTIKO a beautiful shop to be in (Brisbane city), but Mike (Optometrist) and staff were very friendly, professional, and they sure did know their stuff! Mike knew instantly the exact frames that would suit my face and colouring and though I looked over the whole shop at all the other frames, they were the ones I decided to stick with as they were indeed the perfect frames for my face and colouring! The girls were expert at making all the right adjustments to ensure the frames and lenses were designed just right for me and that the glasses would sit perfectly on my face.
Here are my ZEISS DriveSafe Lenses single vision glasses. They look like a regular pair of glasses but are in fact very special with their innovative lenses! I am so in love with the Paul Smith Tortoiseshell and Fuchsia ‘Iden’ frames too! Thank you ZEISS and OPTIKO!
ZEISS DriveSafe lenses cost $340 per pair for Single Vision, and around $500 for Progressive (multi-focal) Vision. For more information and to find a stockist near you visit www.zeiss.com.au/drivesafe !
Ciao for now,
Linking up with With Some Grace for #FYBF
DISCLAIMER: I was gifted a pair of Zeiss DriveSafe Glasses for the purposes of review.
This is not a sponsored post – no payment has been received.
18 Comments
OMG! Is there such a thing?! I need them pronto! I have avoided night driving for decades! I feel very disoriented by lights and movement. I thought it was just me. Thanks for letting me know about these.
I know – I didn’t know of them before this either and I am so thrilled that someone has invested time and resources into coming up with some lenses that address the lights and glare issue etc for many. They really are fabulous! 🙂
That’s pretty cool – and $300-500 for freedom and road safety is a good price.
I think so too! 🙂
Wow. There’s such a thing?!
Yes there is and isn’t it fantastic! 🙂
I’ll be looking at these in more detail in a few years. Over the last 6 months I’ve needed to wear my glasses all the time now but especially for close work (reading, computer, etc). I’m sure my distance/driving vision will start deteriorating soon too!
It creeps up on you Kirsty. My long distance was perfectly fine until suddenly it wasn’t! Aaarrgh the perils of aging! 😉
Thankfully I don’t drive much at night. As I think you know my eyesight is pretty bad but I hope it’s stopped deteriorating at least.
These look great! Though a bit expensive for me at this stage of my life.
I didn’t know your eyesight was bad Deb! I think the glasses might be claimable if you have private health insurance but I am not certain about that so don’t quote me! 😉
Thanks for introducing me to these; my mum and sister would both benefit from these. I’ll have to tell them about it
My pleasure! I’m sure your Mum and sister will be pleased to hear about these! 🙂
I can hardly see anything at night – lucky I don’t drive! I think once you start wearing glasses, it’s a slippery slope and there’s no going back! These lenses look the business and those lenses are swoonsome!
I can hardly see at night either! lol Yes it most definitely is a slippery slope once you start wearing glasses. No going back at all! 🙂 xo
I am not driving at all at the moment but I NEED these lenses for when I do get back to driving. Thanks for the review Min!
These lenses are fantastic for night driving Cathy! Best thing ever! Also great general ‘distance’ lenses for me – I can see the TV crystal clear! 🙂 xo
Love the frames, Min! And great review. I think this is a great product for safe driving and we seem to disregard how important but difficult night driving can be for many people.
Thanks Grace! Aren’t the frames gorgeous? I’m very grateful to ZEISS for putting in the research and creating a product to help people feel safer driving at night. So important!