For more than 160 years, Carl Zeiss has created lenses with a difference. Now comes the latest refinement of Zeiss's acclaimed Gradal® progressive lens series, GT2™. While other manufacturers have focused on incorporating Gradal innovations such as Horizontal Symmetry, as-worn optimization, and a variable near inset into their designs, Carl Zeiss has focused on perfecting them. With GT2, Zeiss delivers a progressive lens unsurpassed in quality and precision, to satisfy both wearers and eye care professionals.


Key features and benefits of GT2™ progressives include:

● Optimal Corridor Length
The top of the near zone has been precisely aligned to match the average visual angle of the eyes when reading the first line of text on a printed page, as demonstrated by extensive head-tracking research.

● More Expansive Near Zone
A larger, more optimally positioned near zone affords wearers considerably better reading performance.

● Low 17mm Fitting Height
A lower fitting height allows patients to choose from a wider variety of frame styles, while providing up to 50% more near utility than Gradal® Top in smaller frames.

● New Base Curve Series
A new, more optimally designed base curve series maintains precise control of optics with a smaller inventory and more efficient use of base curves.

● Premium Treatments Including Teflon® Clear Coat Lenses
GT2™ is compatible with all ZEISS AR coatings, including Teflon® Clear Coat Lenses, for the ultimate in clarity, performance and endurance. GT2 is also available with Carat Advantage®, Carat and Super ET™.

● Available in Transitions® Lenses
Transitions® Lenses automatically adjust from clear indoors to sunglass-dark outdoors for comfortable vision in every light, and block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Available in both Gray and Brown tints in all lens materials.



*Now available in Polycarbonate Polarized Gray and Brown.

GT2™ Frequently Asked Questions

How is GT2™ by ZEISS different from Gradal® Top?
● Gradal Top was designed with an exceptionally wide progressive corridor, smooth transitions in power and unparalleled distance utility in order to deliver a "single-vision-like" viewing experience. GT™ by ZEISS retains the excellent distance, intermediate, and peripheral utility of Gradal Top, and adds several important improvements. GT2 by ZEISS features an "optimally" designed corridor length that is 2mm shorter than Gradal Top's and a larger, more accessible near zone. This combination results in considerably better overall reading vision and up to 50% more utility in smaller frames.

What does ZEISS mean by optimal corridor length?
● The Research and Development organization of Carl Zeiss Vision has collected extensive head-tracking data from nearly 15,000 lens wearers for intermediate and near reading tasks. Using this data, our vision scientists calculated the average angle of downward eye rotation (depression) for eyeglass wearers when reading the first line of text on a typical printed page. This allowed ZEISS lens designers to more carefully design the corridor length, add power profile, and near zone height for the new GT2™ by ZEISS lens design, without unnecessarily compromising optics. The top of the near zone has now been precisely aligned to match the average range of eye rotations during near vision, significantly reducing unnatural or awkward postural adjustments compared to many other progressive lens designs.

Is GT2™ by ZEISS optimized for the as-worn position?
● Yes. The as-worn optimization approach used for GT2™ takes into account the influence that oblique aberrations, reading distance, lens tilt, and vertex distance have on the final optical powers of the lens. This ensures that wearers receive the largest possible zones of clear vision.

Is GT2™ by ZEISS a hard or soft design?
● As with all modern ZEISS progressive lenses, GT2™ incorporates the best features of both hard and soft designs. GT2™ lenses combine a soft periphery around the distance and intermediate zones, to ensure smooth transitions in power, with a somewhat harder boundary around the near zone to maximize reading utility. Vision studies have shown that this creates a superior balance between the reading utility of the near zone and they dynamic vision utility of the distance and intermediate zones, allowing the wearer to perform both types of task with equal comfort.

Is GT2™ by ZEISS an aspheric design?
● Yes. While all progressive lenses must be aspheric globally across the entire surface in order to produce a progression of add power, GT2™ by ZEISS has additional asphericity incorporated locally in the distance and near zones to reduce oblique power errors associated with the as-worn position and peripheral vision. This added design sophistication provides outstanding optics and larger fields of clear vision at both distance and near compared to conventional progressive lenses, along with thinner, flatter lens profiles.

Does the design of GT2™ by ZEISS change based on the Rx?
● Yes. The optical asphericity of the viewing zones has been precisely calculated for each base curve in order to ensure consistent performance in the as-worn position across the entire prescription range. Additionally, the near zone inset has been calculated for each base curve and add power combination to ensure maximum binocular alignment.

What is the corridor length of GT2™ by ZEISS?
● The corridor length from the fitting cross to 85% of the specified add power is approximately 13mm.

What is the minimum recommended fitting height for GT2™ by ZEISS?
● Although it was not designed as a "short-corridor progressive," GT2™ by ZEISS uses advanced design techniques to allow a minimum fitting height of 17mm. Because the near zone is higher in the lens than that of Gradal Top, GT2™ will provide a generous reading area even in smaller frames. GT2™ will perform equally well in both smaller and larger frame styles.

Is GT2™ by ZEISS a symmetrical or asymmetrical design?
● GT2™ by ZEISS employs an advanced asymmetrical design that maximizes the alignment between the viewing zones of the right and left lenses during binocular vision, which ensures that wearers get the widest possible binocular field of view at all viewing distances. This unique asymmetrical design also uses Horizontal Symmetry to minimize the differences in power, prism, and magnification between the right and left lenses across the entire lens surface.

What is Horizontal Symmetry?
● Horizontal Symmetry is a patented ZEISS technology that extends the notion of an asymmetrical lens design. Horizontal Symmetry minimizes the differences in power between points at equal lateral distances to the right and left of the progressive eyepath, essentially "mirroring" the optics of the surface to either side of the progressive corridor. As a result, the eyes perceive similar optical powers through each lens when viewing the same object, even in the periphery. This ensures more accurate and more comfortable binocular vision by reducing the differences in blur, prism, and magnification between the right and left lenses for corresponding points.

What is the near inset of GT2™ by ZEISS?
● The inset of the near zone is precisely computed for each base curve and add power combination in order to compensate for the effect of prism induced by the distance correction, and for the effect of the reading distance on ocular convergence during near vision. This ensures that the centers of the near zones are properly aligned with the lines of sight during near vision. The range of insets varies from 2.0 to 4.5mm.

Does GT2™ by ZEISS require Measurement Values?
● No, GT2™ by ZEISS has been optically optimized for the "as-worn" position to ensure the widest possible zones of clear vision. However, in order to ensure ease of verification and dispensing, the powers at the distance and near checking circles have been constrained to provide the prescribed values as measured with a traditional focimeter. Therefore, the Measurement Values used with other ZEISS progressive lenses are not necessary, and GT2™ by ZEISS can be verified normally.

Do I need to follow and special procedures when fitting and dispensing GT2™ by ZEISS?
● No. GT2™ by ZEISS should be fitted and dispensed like all ZEISS general-purpose progressive lenses. Always pre-adjust the frame before taking measurements. Monocular interpupillary measurements for distance vision and monocular fitting height measurements to pupil center should be used. Lenses should be fitted and adjusted carefully upon dispensing, with a minimal vertex and 8° to 12° of pantoscopic tilt. Finally, the wearer should be adequately trained in the use of his or her new progressive lenses.

What is the adaptation rate for GT2™ by ZEISS?
● All ZEISS progressive lenses enjoy an exceptionally high adaptation rate among both new and existing progressive wearers.

Can I switch bifocal wearers to GT2™ by ZEISS?
● Yes. Bifocal wearers should find GT2™ by ZEISS easier to adapt to than most progressive lenses. Compared to other progressive lens designs, GT2's™ shorter corridor and larger near zone, combined with its wide, clear distance zone, will provide a more familiar viewing experience for former bifocal wearers. Additionally, peripheral astigmatism and distortion, a leading cause of progressive non-adapts, has been kept to an absolute minimum.

What are the layout markings and locations for GT2™ by ZEISS?

Are there any special processing requirements for GT2™ by ZEISS?
● No. GT2™ can be processed like traditional premium progressive lenses.

Should prism-thinning be used with GT2™ by ZEISS?
● Yes. Prism-thinning reduces the overall weight and thickness of progressive lenses, particularly in plus prescriptions and high add powers. As a simple rule-of-thumb, ZEISS recommends surfacing 60% of the add power in the form of base down prism when the combined distance Rx and add power exceeds +1.50 through the vertical meridian. However, optimum results will be achieved with a quality surfacing calculation program.

What are the lens thickness recommendations for GT2™ by ZEISS?
● The table below provides the minimum recommended center thickness guidelines for GT2™ by ZEISS:

Progressive lenses of this type that satisfy the thickness guidelines provided above have demonstrated the minimum level of impact resistance during performance testing. However, the ultimate impact strength of a lens depends upon several factors, including the particular combination of coatings and treatments applied to it, and conformance to the FDA regulation is the responsibility of subsequent processors. For additional thickness guidelines, please consult the GT2™ by ZEISS processing guides.

Can GT2™ by ZEISS be hard coated or AR coated?
● Yes. GT2™ by ZEISS is compatible with most Rx laboratory hard coating and AR coating processes. For the ultimate visual experience and cosmetic benefit, GT2™ lenses by ZEISS are fully compatible in all materials with Teflon® Clear Coat Lenses and Carat® Advantage, which combine the best anti-reflection performance with the durability of a premium scratch coating. Please consult your laboratory for specific material compatibility details.