From June 8 to 12, 2026, ZEISS employee and ISO Officer Timo Kratzer chaired the most recent ISO/TC 172/SC 7 Meeting on Ophthalmic Optics held in Milan. Chairman Kratzer, Head of Academic & Public Health Ecosystems at ZEISS Vision Care, and a total of about 100 ophthalmic industry experts discussed and developed international standards for eye care, vision correction, and eye surgery. Topics and outcomes of the meetings will soon be disclosed with the publication of new and updated standards by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Defining important international standards for spectacle lenses and other ophthalmic products
The objective of ISO’s subcommittee “SC 7 – Ophthalmic Optics and Instruments” is to balance industry advancement with robust safeguards, so consumers can benefit from the most innovative eye care solutions without compromising their eye health. To ensure this, the subcommittee creates standardized terminology, testing methods, and manufacturing requirements for spectacle frames and lenses, material standards and care accessories for contact lenses, implants (e.g., intraocular lenses and other optical/non-optical eye implants) as well as precision tools and diagnostic devices used by eye care professionals.
Diverse and global expertise: ZEISS experts represented their countries and different ZEISS business units
Through the nominations, experts from ZEISS represented their respective countries, such as Germany, Australia, the USA, Italy, and China, as well as different ZEISS Segments and Strategic Business Units. Together with the other industry participants, ZEISS experts engaged in different project and working groups. The groups focused mainly on contact lenses, spectacle lenses, ophthalmic instruments, and intraocular lenses, with numerous resolutions advancing new and revised standards for safety, performance, testing, and labeling. These developments reflect significant regulatory and technological progress across both consumer and clinical ophthalmic products.
Different ZEISS employees have served as chairmen since the founding of ISO TC 172/SC 7. With profound knowledge of the human eye and visual behavior, ZEISS experts actively drive progress and innovation in their field, as they are also committed to protecting and improving the vision and lifelong visual health of the world’s consumers.
