WHO IS ZEISS VISION AMBASSADOR KENNETH HINES, JR?

Kenneth (Professor Hines) is a world-renowned photographer, who's been a partner and ambassador with ZEISS Camera Lenses since April 2019 and has a storied career for education in the importance of quality optics in photography. He brings that same level of care to his community with his new and quite unusual partnership with ZEISS Vision Care.

A partnership with individuals outside of the optometry and ophthalmology was unheard of for ZEISS Vision, but his ambition for education led him pitching the idea of partnership that discusses the importance of eyecare for photographers. In an ever-evolving world of technology and increased digital screen consumption it's vital that photographers be cognizant to their eye health and utilize proper eyewear that not only helps them see better, but helps minimize eye strain, headaches and more.

As a new ambassador for ZEISS Vision Care you'll get to come along with Kenneth, as he shares his journey about his eyecare journey and the technologies from ZEISS that provides him the best optics in his daily life, as a professional photographer and JIB camera operator.

MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR HINES →

WHAT EYE CONDITION(S) DO I SUFFER FROM?

I have myopia, or nearsightedness with astigmatism. Things that are distant are blurry to me, which makes it difficult to read text or see people's faces that are not extremely close to me while things/people that are close look perfectly fine! My eyesight also suffers more at night than during the day because of this (night myopia: low light causes my eyes to have more difficulty in focusing). Without corrective measures I suffer from significant eye strain, headaches and the need to squint to clear my vision for distant viewing.

This is why I looked to ZEISS Vision for my corrective needs, through my optical professional. Below you'll find the technologies my eyecare professional recommended from ZEISS' vast portfolio, based on my specific needs in how my daily work and leisure life are.

How Zeiss Lenses Helped Me Rediscover My Vision & Myself

Watch On-Demand →

WHY AM I SHARING THIS ON MY PHOTOGRAPHY SITE?

I'm most certain there are people questioning why this section resides here on my site. Many may find this to be irrelevant to them, but what I'm sharing here is probably more relevant to you than anything else here!

I'm sharing about my eye care journey so that you don't make the mistakes I did, such as waiting so long before doing something about my eyesight and obtaining solutions to help me see better and especially to resolve my eye straining and severe headaches I'd have that was because of my eyes!

Photography is all about us being able to see what we're photographing. Being encompassed in this digital age with such an increased usage of screens it can degrade the quality of our eyesight, and we may just ignore signs of problems we may be facing. I'm hoping that by my sharing this and being transparent on my struggles and measures I've taken to mitigate the programs can be helpful to someone else and provide information that's informative to where you can ask more questions to your eye care provider and discover alternative solutions you may not have otherwise known about, such as the most common one I've received since beginning this journey: that ZEISS also makes lenses for eyeglasses!

I'm not an optometrist or ophthalmologist by any means, but with the help of my eye care professional, ZEISS Vision and others within such fields I hope to educate myself more on best practices and the technologies available for my eye care and share with you, the community and provide information that can help others who may be in a similar place as me.

ZEISS DriveSafe Progressives (Nancy) + ZEISS Digital SmartLife (Ken)

ZEISS Polarized Lenses

COMMUNITY COMMENTS ABOUT ZEISS →

FOLLOW ZEISS VISION USA ON INSTAGRAM →

WHAT ZEISS TECHNOLIGIES & FRAMES DO YOU UTILIZE?

ZEISS DuraVision Gold UV

Introduced in February 2025, this new coating is distinguished from other ZEISS coatings by its gold hue. Lenses with DuraVision Gold UV are faster and easier to clean and more durable in resisting scratches. These are presently included in one of my pair of SmartLife Lenses. Note: DuraVision Gold UV isn't available with DriveSafe lenses.

Learn More →

ZEISS SmartLife Lenses

These are available in Single Vision, Digital and Progressive options (I'm a Single Vision wearer).

For general everyday eyewear the ZEISS Digital SmartLife lenses was the solution recommended by my eyecare professional, to suit my extensive usage of digital devices from my mirrorless cameras to my mobile phone and tablet. For active eyes in a digital life these offer a seamless transition between digital screens and everything else around me, providing all day comfort.

I also wanted a solution that included self-tinting technology to eliminate the need for me having to switch glasses while out photographing in the city streets (to eliminate the risk of me accidentally damaging my glasses in some way during switching). ZEISS PhotoFusion X photochromic lenses provide fast light adaptation from clear to dark. They get just as dark as sunglasses and provide sunglass-level UV protection (when both clear or dark) and provide protection from glare.

These are also made with ZEISS BlueGuard, which blocks up to 50% of blue light indoors and up to 94% outdoors when fully tinted. ZEISS BlueGuard also helps me in combatting digital eye strain and headaches I would have from prolonged viewing of digital devices.

See how I photograph in the field with ZEISS SmartLife Lenses with PhotoFusion X technology, in the streets of New York City.

Watch On-Demand →

ZEISS Single Vision SmartLife

ZEISS Digital SmartLife

ZEISS Progressive SmartLife

ZEISS PHOTOFUSION X LENSES →

ZEISS BLUEGUARD →

ZEISS Polarized Lenses

Have you ever been out in bright sunlight and had to squint to view something, because the sunlight was reflecting off of a surface too harshly, such as a car or water? This is where Polarized Lenses benefit you.

If you're a photographer like me then you'll understand why such lenses for your eyes are essential! In photography you have polarizing filters to reduce the reflections off of bodies of water or windows for instance. They also benefit in making clouds in your composition have more rich, vibrant colors.

ZEISS Polarized lenses do exactly the same task, reducing reflected light that irritates your eyes. They can help you see better through your daily activities - whether you're driving, skiing, relaxing at the beach, or playing sports. ZEISS Polarized lenses come in a variety of colors to suit your style and offer 100% UVA and UVB protection.

ZEISS Mirror Tints are included in one pair of my sunglasses (pictured above), allowing me to see out but people can't see my eyes (I love this, so people can't see my thoughts, ha!). I have the Diamond Mirror Tint, but you can choose tints with any color of your choosing! While being a great fashionable addition some tints are good for specific outdoor activities such as water sports and skiing.

ZEISS POLARIZED LENSES →

ZEISS MIRROR TINTS →

My Current Eyewear

Below you'll find my current eyewear collection and the type of lenses they I've had placed in each frame.

1. CUTLER AND GROSS SUNGLASSES | ZEISS Polarized Lenses + ZEISS Diamond Mirror Tint

2. CHOPARD SUNGLASSES | ZEISS Polarized Lenses

3. HUG Spectacles (Germany) | ZEISS Digital SmartLife, Polarized Lenses, PhotoFusion X & DuraVision Platinum UV

4. CHOPARD | ZEISS Digital SmartLife Lenses, ZEISS PhotoFusion X & NEW DuraVision Gold UV

5-7. LOWERCASE & ZERO G TITANIUM (Matte Grey & Green Gloss) | ZEISS Digital SmartLife Lenses, PhotoFusion X & DuraVision Platinum UV

All of my frames (except HUG, from S: WIE OPTIK in Nürnberg, Germany) are from Michael Alexander in Larchmont, New York.

FIND MY FRAMES VIA MICHAEL ALEXANDER →

ARE PREMIUM LENSES RIGHT FOR YOU?

I can't answer this for you, unfortunately. Many consumers don't have the means to spend hundreds on premium optics for their glasses and can only afford what their insurance will cover, I get that.

From what I teach with photography with the differences in kit lenses to premium lenses the same can be said with eyeglasses. The lenses you're wearing today will indeed serve their purpose and be fine for most, but on the other hand there are better options out there, providing a better experience in how you see!

I've always made the effort to utilize the best lenses possible for my cameras, so that the images I capture are the best possible result I can obtain at that time. This is especially important should I never have the opportunity to visit a location a second time. The same I apply to my eyewear. I want the best possible optics for my eyes, because they're the only set I'll have and I want to take care of them as best as possible. I can tell you all of what ZEISS offers, but the best thing I can ever say to anyone is to try them for yourself. If you take a chance and try them then you'll see what I see and understand why I've been a loyal user of ZEISS for my photography and now my eyewear for over 15 years.

Trusted Eye Care Professional

Find the best eye care is essential! I'm grateful for Michael Alexandar Optical Boutique in Larchmont, New York for providing me with a personable experience, fitting me with eyewear that works for me and suggesting the best lens offerings from ZEISS for my needs. If you're interested in an eye care professional that offers ZEISS lenses, click the link below!

FIND AN EYE DOCTOR →

FAQs

What glasses do you use while you're taking photos?

Great question! The ZEISS Digital SmartLife pairs are typically what you'll see me photographing with (ZERO G being the primary and Chopard for special events or when I'm filming a production). I wear those because I don't have to switch my glasses.

Doing street photography I'd risk dropping my glasses or something going from my sunglasses to the clear/photochromic ones.

When I go underground the sunglasses are too dark of course but having the tinted ones they'll switch themselves if I'm above or below ground and can see at all times. The only thing they don't have is the polarization but it's okay. I don't always have to have that when photographing. Just walking the streets taking no photos I'll wear my sunglasses then.

PhotoFusion X - Does it affect you when you’re taking pictures with the glasses on during bright days?

No! Actually, the opposite! Coincidentally I took a photo on the bridge near where I took this selfie and I was facing towards the sun and like an idiot I was initially tilting my head down to see the screen, blocking the sun with my hat and looking over my glasses but I just tilted back up and just looked through the glasses. That's what they're there for lol.

I'll add that when I was by the water and the sun was directly shining off that then my polarized sunglasses would have been better. These frames don't have polarized lenses, so l get surface glare through these.

For most things the self-tinting lenses are fine but if I have a lot of reflective things in view then the polarized sunglasses are better to wear, and I can photograph fine with those as well.

How does it work for you with your glasses and the camera finder? I always have issues with that.

I rarely use the viewfinder but the rare occasions I have I use it as normal, but this is with my standard glasses. I’ve not tried to do so with the sunglasses.

MUST HAVE CARE ITEMS

ZEISS Vision

WHO IS ZEISS VISION AMBASSADOR KENNETH HINES, JR?

As a new ambassador for ZEISS Vision Care you'll get to come along with Kenneth, as he shares his journey about his eyecare journey and the technologies from ZEISS that provides him the best optics in his daily life, as a professional photographer and JIB camera operator.

WHAT EYE CONDITION(S) DO I SUFFER FROM?

This is why I looked to ZEISS Vision for my corrective needs, through my optical professional. Below you'll find the technologies my eyecare professional recommended from ZEISS' vast portfolio, based on my specific needs in how my daily work and leisure life are.

How Zeiss Lenses Helped Me Rediscover My Vision & Myself

WHY AM I SHARING THIS ON MY PHOTOGRAPHY SITE?

I'm most certain there are people questioning why this section resides here on my site. Many may find this to be irrelevant to them, but what I'm sharing here is probably more relevant to you than anything else here!

I'm sharing about my eye care journey so that you don't make the mistakes I did, such as waiting so long before doing something about my eyesight and obtaining solutions to help me see better and especially to resolve my eye straining and severe headaches I'd have that was because of my eyes!

ZEISS DriveSafe Progressives (Nancy) + ZEISS Digital SmartLife (Ken)

ZEISS Polarized Lenses

WHAT ZEISS TECHNOLIGIES & FRAMES DO YOU UTILIZE?

ZEISS DuraVision Gold UV

ZEISS SmartLife Lenses

These are available in Single Vision, Digital and Progressive options (I'm a Single Vision wearer).

These are also made with ZEISS BlueGuard, which blocks up to 50% of blue light indoors and up to 94% outdoors when fully tinted. ZEISS BlueGuard also helps me in combatting digital eye strain and headaches I would have from prolonged viewing of digital devices.

ZEISS Single Vision SmartLife

ZEISS Digital SmartLife

ZEISS Progressive SmartLife

ZEISS Polarized Lenses

Have you ever been out in bright sunlight and had to squint to view something, because the sunlight was reflecting off of a surface too harshly, such as a car or water? This is where Polarized Lenses benefit you.

My Current Eyewear

Below you'll find my current eyewear collection and the type of lenses they I've had placed in each frame.

1. CUTLER AND GROSS SUNGLASSES | ZEISS Polarized Lenses + ZEISS Diamond Mirror Tint

2. CHOPARD SUNGLASSES | ZEISS Polarized Lenses

3. HUG Spectacles (Germany) | ZEISS Digital SmartLife, Polarized Lenses, PhotoFusion X & DuraVision Platinum UV

4. CHOPARD | ZEISS Digital SmartLife Lenses, ZEISS PhotoFusion X & NEW DuraVision Gold UV

5-7. LOWERCASE & ZERO G TITANIUM (Matte Grey & Green Gloss) | ZEISS Digital SmartLife Lenses, PhotoFusion X & DuraVision Platinum UV

ARE PREMIUM LENSES RIGHT FOR YOU?

I can't answer this for you, unfortunately. Many consumers don't have the means to spend hundreds on premium optics for their glasses and can only afford what their insurance will cover, I get that.

Trusted Eye Care Professional

FAQs

What glasses do you use while you're taking photos?

PhotoFusion X - Does it affect you when you’re taking pictures with the glasses on during bright days?

How does it work for you with your glasses and the camera finder? I always have issues with that.

MUST HAVE CARE ITEMS

ZEISS Sunglasses Wipes

ZEISS Lens Wipes

ZEISS AntiFOG Wipes

ZEISS Lens Cleaning Kit

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS