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History of Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH
How it started
In 1901 the cooperation with the Swedish eyecare professional and subsequent Nobel Prize winner Allvar Gullstrand started. In 1908 Moritz von Rohr calculated a point-focal imaging eyeglass lens which minimizes the blurring that occurs when looking through edge areas, thus laying the foundation for Punktal eyeglass lenses. Coinciding with the launch of PUNKTAL, the OPTO department, the predecessor to the current Carl Zeiss Vision, was founded on April 1, 1912. The division of Germany into East and West leads to the new founding of Carl Zeiss in Oberkochen. Constant innovations like the Gradal® and continuous advancements lead to the international rise and emergence of Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH in 2005. This company still revolutionizes the field of eyeglasses, e.g. with the invention of the Individual® FrameFit® or the next generation of vision: i.Scription®.
1901
Start of cooperation with Swedish eye care professional and subsequent Nobel Prize winner Allvar Gullstrand.
1908
Moritz von Rohr calculates a point-focal imaging eyeglass lens which minimizes the blurring that occurs when looking through edge areas, thus laying the foundation for Punktal eyeglass lenses.
1912
Coinciding with the launch of PUNKTAL®, the OPTO department is founded on 1 April, the predecessor to the current Carl Zeiss Vision. Start of volume production of ZEISS eyeglass lenses.
1917
A state-run vocational school for eye care professionals is founded in Jena with ongoing financial support from the Carl Zeiss Foundation.
1945
Jena is initially occupied by American forces who take the leading employees to the American Zone before Thuringia is handed over to the Soviet Union. These employees establish a new company in Oberkochen, which later also carries the name Carl Zeiss.
1957
Relocation of eyeglass lens production from Oberkochen to Aalen.
1996
Introduction of the "Z" trademark on all eyeglass lenses.
2005
Acquisition of SOLA International Inc. Merger with the Eyeglass Lens Division to create Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH (50 percent owned by Carl Zeiss, 50 percent by the EQT private equity fund)
2010
Carl Zeiss Vision becomes a 100 percent subsidiary of Carl Zeiss AG.
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