The future in focus

ZEISS opens a distribution office in New York City as Carl Zeiss Inc., later headquartered on Fifth Avenue. ​​

Enabled by the ZEISS Mk II projector, the Adler Planetarium in Chicago becomes the first planetarium in the USA.

ZEISS OPMI 1 debuts as the world’s first surgical microscope, leading to its widespread adoption in operating rooms, enabling microsurgery globally.

Apollo 11 astronauts capture humanity’s first steps on the Moon with a specially designed ZEISS camera lens.

ZEISS Industrial Metrology establishes its sales and service business in the USA, becoming the country’s leader in the metrology industry.

Collaboration with David Mann (later GCA) results in the world's first wafer stepper, powered by the ZEISS S-Planar® 10/0.28 lens.

ZEISS relocates from 5th Avenue in New York City to Thornwood, NY, establishing a larger office and sales and service campus to better serve customers.

Hollywood honors ZEISS with its first Academy Award in the Science and Engineering category from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its Super Speed lenses for motion picture photography.

ZEISS acquires Numerex, a US manufacturer of bridge-type measuring machines based in Minneapolis, MN.

IBM, in collaboration with ZEISS USA, develops the Aerial Measurement System (AIMS).

Market launch of the first commercial OCT (optical coherence tomography) device, based on research by MIT scientists, to examine patients with serious retinal diseases.

Introduction of the ZEISS IOLMaster, a biometry device for highly accurate, non-contact measurement of the eye, and for determining the refractive power of intraocular lenses during cataract operations.

Hollywood awards ZEISS with its second Academy Award in the Science and Engineering category for the concept and optical design of zoom lenses (Variable Primes). These large, heavy, short-range zooms provide exceptional image quality throughout their range, a great contribution to the arts.

Carl Zeiss Ophthalmic Lens Division and SOLA (including American Optical) merge to form Carl Zeiss Vision, strengthening partnerships with optometrists and opticians by offering a broader range of lens products, services, and solutions.

ZEISS Vision Care launches wipes designed for gentle, on-the-go cleaning, particularly effective at removing smudges and dirt from optical lens surfaces.

ZEISS employees Uwe Weber and Dr. Jürgen Noffke receive a Technical Academy Award for the Master Prime lenses, ZEISS's third Scientific and Engineering Award®.

Acquisition of Xradia to complement the microscopy business with innovative 3D x-ray microscopes for industrial and academic research applications, forming a unique portfolio of light, electron, ion, and x-ray microscopy.

ReLEx SMILE receives FDA approval and launches in the USA – SMILE is the first minimally invasive form of laser vision correction.​

ZEISS UVClean, designed to meet the everyday sterilization needs resulting from a global pandemic.

NASA’s rover Perseverance begins exploring Mars for signs of life with the support of ZEISS technology.

The opening of the ZEISS Innovation Center California showcases ZEISS’s leadership in technology, research, and customer service.

Acquisition of CAPTURE 3D, a US provider of optical 3D scanning technologies, expands expertise in advanced manufacturing solutions.

ZEISS USA marks 100 years of transforming imagination into reality and advancing innovation in America.