ZEISS, a leading innovator in optical technology and creator of the new ZEISS SmartLife lenses, has released the findings of a new study revealing the impact of lifestyle and behavioural changes on our eyesight during 2020.
The quarterly ZEISS Visual Behaviour Survey found 56% of New Zealanders have experienced a negative impact to their eyesight in 2020 which they attributed to lifestyle changes made in response to the global pandemic and lockdown measures.
For the study, respondents were asked to select all symptoms they had experienced this year. One-in-three (33%) said they had tired eyes at the end of the day, 24% experienced eye strain, 26% had trouble focusing and 13% suffered with red or itchy eyes, showing many experienced more than one symptom. Further, more people aged 35-44 had tired eyes at the end of the day compared with any other age group, with 40% reporting this issue.
The study also revealed that while our eye health is one of the most important elements for our wellbeing and productivity at work, there are still key factors which hold us back from getting regular eye tests, such as expense.
General Manager ZEISS Vision Care Australia and New Zealand, Hilke Fitzsimons, said the survey further supports the international studies and clinical trials which informed the development of ZEISS’ latest lens innovation – ZEISS SmartLife lenses.
“Our vision is, and needs to be, dynamic to keep up with our changing world and lifestyles. Our bodies were not built to automatically cope with all the external challenges around us competing for attention as we constantly multitask – using a computer and smart phone at the same time, looking at a person, writing something on paper, and looking up at a TV screen, all in a matter of seconds.


“Our new ZEISS SmartLife lenses have been designed and created to address this very situation, using incredible new technology to support frequent gaze changes between various distances and directions.
“At ZEISS, we’re investing in further understanding the complexities of our visual behaviour as we believe ZEISS SmartLife lenses should be a global standard as a single solution for all of today’s active, connected adults,” Ms Fitzsimons explained.





