Zeiss Glasses

[ClaremontPhoto]

Does anybody here use Zeiss lenses in their glasses? The one I'm interested in is the Zeiss Business variables optimized for reading, computer screens and meetings - not at all for distance stuff. I like the idea of looking through Zeiss every day!

Hoya market soemthing similar as Hoya Interview and I suppose that these are less expensive.

Please don't tell me to ask my optician as he doesn't speak English and my Portuguese is fine day to day but these matters are beyond my ability.

 

[rover]

Yes, well I know my glasses have a Zeiss coating, I don't know if the lens is Zeiss. The Zeiss coating is effective, but it is important to keep it clean, otherwise they are smudgy and flare.........

I use pre moistened Bausch & Lomb lens cleaning tissues which are not as wet as the Zeiss tissues. My glasses get cleaned once or twice a day at least depending on need.

 

[Trius]

I recently had Zeiss material ground for a pair of older, but quite serviceable, Titanium frames. They are full progressive, and they are both multi-coated and are treated with the Transitions coating. My primary use is for outdoor activity such as camping, canoeing, etc., as I don't want to submit my dressier frames to rough treatment.

One thing I have noticed is that the material seems to be higher index than others I've had. I have a strong prescription, and these lenses are visibly thinner than the previous material.

I concur that they need to be cleaned carefully due to the coating. I use an optical spray cleaner my optometrist gives me when I visit, and either a microfiber cloth or a auto detailing clothing. The latter has a much higher knap than microfiber, and does a good job. They are cheap and the bulk makes them easier to handle for me.

 

[erudolph]

Hi Jon.... I've been usinh Zeiss lenses for about 15 years. (Actually, on my most recent pair of glasses I got some sort of plastic lenses instead of Zeiss and they are not as good.) I think the Zeiss I've used are called high-index lenses. They are lighter than comparable glass lenses, aspheric, extremely well-corrected with no chromatic aberration at the edges. However, they are not safety glass and therefore here in the US I had to sign some sort of waiver to get them. Also, there is one other drawback. With most lenses, if you have some problem with the prescription during the first 60 or 90 days, the lens manufacturer will remake the lens for no additional charge. This is definitely not true of the Zeiss lenses. In one pair of glasses, my optometrist wrote an incorrect prescription and I had to pay again to get the lenses corrected. Finally, the Zeiss lenses are relatively expensive.

Ed

 

[kully]

Hallo,

I had Zeiss lenses and the coating on one lens failed twice in two years and the other one failed just after two years.

After that I bought Nikon lenses (because D&A had stopped doing Zeiss) and they've been completely fine for the 2.5 years I've had them.

The Nikon lenses are available in the same indices as the Zeiss ones (and I presume any other manufacturer like Pentax & al. would also offer them).

I wish there was a site somewhere with user reviews for spectacles and lenses - I spend about £350-400 for a pair and expect them to take a good few years of abuse.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

This is interesting stuff. Thank you.

I agree that frequent cleaning is a good idea.

My optician always gives me Essilor Varilux but since I need only the near and the intermediate zones, not the distance zone which is clear, I'm nodding my head up and down all day.

I fancy the idea of two zone variables from a quality optical manufacturer. Does anybody here actually have the Zeiss Business, or the Hoya Interview, or the equivalent from another manufacturer?

 

[Trius]

Ed: This is OT, but why did you have to pay for your optometrist's mistake? The optician at my optometrist initially forgot to order the Transitions coating, so had to order a new set of lenses. There was no way I would pay for their mistake, as much as I think my optometrist "rocks".

Yes, the Zeiss material costs more. Time will tell whehter the coating endures and I am still as pleased with them as I am now.

Jon: My best, though limited, advice is to find an optometrist with whom you can discuss all your questions. Here in the Excited States dispensing spectacles and lenses is dominated by corporate chains and franchises. I gave up on these places quite some time ago. I went to an independent optometrist who takes the time to discuss things with me. She costs more, but is definitely worth every penny. That last sentence may not sound quite right, but ...

Earl

 

[John Camp]

I can't help you with the specific product, but I use progressive lenses in my regular glasses, and several years ago started buying special computer glasses. For me, they are well worth it. Every time I go for a prescription change, now, I get new computer glasses. Most opticians will also sell you a loop with sticky tape on the back, that you can actually mount on your computer case so you can hang the glasses on the case. Since the computer glasses are simple single-focus lenses, and I'm not buying fashion frames, they're also cheap -- the last ones were ~$70.

JC

 

[RObert Budding]

I have Zeiss progressive lenses and they're fantastic. The Karat coating is hard and does not scratch easily. And the coatings stay much cleaner than other coated eyeglass lenses I've had.

I'm getting a new precription in a few months and I'll buy Zeiss again.