TECHNOLOGY New Study Shows Car Drivers’ Performance With Adlens Adjustables By Andrew Karp Thursday, November 20, 2014 12:00 AM OXFORD, U.K.—Car drivers perform at the same level whether they wear Adlens adjustable focus eyewear perform or prescription eyewear, according to a new research study conducted by Adlens and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). In the first of a series of studies designed to investigate driving performance while wearing adjustable focus eyewear, UMTRI researchers have found there is no statistically significant difference in hazard detection between Adlens Adjustables and prescription eyeglasses. Both were found to offer a significant advantage over wearing no corrective eyewear at all. “This study was designed to investigate how people would set adjustable focus eyewear for driving and how well they could see certain important stimuli with the eyewear,” said Michael Flannagan, PhD, research associate professor at UMTRI. “The study was conducted on public roads in normal traffic. Without specific instructions, the subjects adjusted the eyewear as expected to see distant parts of the roadway rather than the vehicle instrument panel. The distance at which they could see and recognize objects (speed limit signs and pedestrians) was approximately the same with adjustable and prescription eyewear.” Graeme MacKenzie, OD, director of industry affairs at Adlens, commented, “We are delighted by the early results from the UMTRI study. There are many millions of Americans who require prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to drive. Until recently, if their eyewear was damaged or lost, these people had no choice but to drive without glasses while they waited for new prescription eyewear to be issued. This research indicates that adjustable focus eyewear can offer a temporary solution to their vision correction needs, restoring visual performance behind the wheel and leading to greater safety on our roads.” UMTRI has been the forerunner of research in this field since 1965, with a multimillion dollar budget for identifying and solving issues related to safety on the road. This new study sheds light on the importance of proper vision in reacting to hazards when driving, even for those who do not require corrective eyewear for other daily activities. Adlens advises that the drivers should not adjust the focus of the eyewear while driving.