One word to describe the Expo Hall at Vision Expo West 2024: vast. The number of exhibitors and the sheer scale of the event was a lot to take in.
We kept an eye out for innovations and forward-thinking companies on our journey through the booths. Think next-gen VR headset testing, remote eye care solutions, and digital tools to help your practice thrive. Let’s dive in.
Eyewear Trends
I see the future of the [optical] industry in the customization aspect. 40% of the market is walking into the optical and walking out because it doesn’t have something that they like or that actually fits them. And that’s where the customization comes in. You can customize your Nikes, you can customize M&Ms, and now you can customize your own frames. And that’s where the future is. – Rossy Gonzalez, Thema USA (Eco-friendly, fully customizable eyewear)
The future of eyewear is all about customization, sustainability, advanced frame construction, and patented technologies. On-demand design and 3D printing eliminates the need for large purchase orders — and subsequent storage space. We were intrigued by 3D printing as a solution to storage issues, durability, and sustainability concerns:
Tech Print Industries (TPI) leads 3D-printed eyewear innovation, collaborating with top European brands like Liq Eyewear (Spain), REL Eyewear (Italy), eye3d.nl (Netherlands), RAYDIANT (Germany), and EveryWear (Netherlands). TPI offers advanced technologies like personalized scan-to-print frames and durable, color-rich materials. Brands and retailers can create custom collections and introduce lightweight, sustainable eyewear to their customers, shaping the future of eyewear through creativity and innovation. – Kiana Notenboom, Tech Print Industries
If you’re curious about the design and construction of 3D-printed frames, there are several short, informational videos at Tech Print Industries that can give you more background.
Durability was a major theme on the show floor. Noon Shop’s Steel Brown collection showcases the durability and lightweight nature of stainless steel:
The frames are precision-engineered as a single piece, eliminating potential weak points and ensuring long-lasting performance. Their wafer-thin design offers a sleek, modern look while maintaining exceptional strength. It’s no surprise that Tesla Cybertrucks are also crafted with stainless steel. – Anna Park, Noon Shop
And that patented technology I mentioned? It’s all in service of durability and comfort:
What impresses people the most at these types of shows is our TurboFlex technology, the worldwide patented 360-degree rotating hinge. It makes the frames flexible, comfortable and most of all resilient. It’s so fun to see people’s faces as they play with our product for the first time. Needless to say, once you’ve tried a pair, you’ll want one of your own. – Steve Dawson, Aspex Eyewear
Eyewear Designs Ltd. (you may remember the cool Elton John Eyewear displays at their booth) gave us great intel about fit, color, and sustainability trends:
It’s all about the fit – comfort, and right now we are seeing a strong emphasis on extra-large styles and fits for both men and women. Soft, cool shapes but strong large sizes – men’s over 57 eye and women’s over 55 eye.
Color is another key trend. We see more and more use of multi-color combinations both for men and women. Lamination and new color techniques give us the ability to bring to market truly beautiful and unique color combinations.
We continue to address supporting global sustainability issues. Our company goal is to have 50% of our collections made from recycled and sustainable materials within 24 months and 100% within two more years. We encourage and work with all our supply partners to help us achieve this goal. – Abby Gluck, Eyewear Designs Ltd.
Innovative Equipment
VR headsets are having major impact as a diagnostic tool and are easy to integrate into a practice. Patients love them, and most importantly, you get accurate results. Clinically validated, research-backed tech like the Virtual Eye offers visual field testing that eliminates the constraints of traditional SAP.
Neurolens has already partnered with more than 1,500 independent optometrists to incorporate immersive VR technology into their practices while offering patients pioneering lens technology:
With increased competition from online and retail channels, it is more important than ever for independent eye care providers to differentiate themselves with cutting-edge innovation and world-class patient care.
[Our] N3 VR headset quickly engages patients while measuring their binocular misalignment and educates the 80% of patients suffering from symptoms such as headaches, neck pain, eye strain, and motion sickness on the potential connection to their eye misalignment. Based on the patient’s N3 measurement, optometrists can prescribe Neurolenses with patented contoured prism technology to bring clear sight and, beyond that, life-changing symptom relief. – Chase Cutler, Neurolens
Related reads:
Reader Survey: What’s On Your Tech Shopping List?, Review of Optometry
Devices You Might Not Have: Are They a Good Fit?, Review of Optometry
Remote Eye Care
DigitalOptometrics has been facilitating comprehensive remote eye exams since 2018, so they have firsthand knowledge of the supply and demand issues in the industry. Remote eye care is a way to improve efficiency and see more patients (who otherwise wouldn’t have access to eye care at all).
There are not enough optometrists to support a growing industry. Our purpose is to meet patient demand. There’s a lot of underserved communities throughout the United States that require this kind of care. And [remote eye care] allows for patient convenience, reduced wait times, and reduced no-show rates. – Howard Fried, O.D., president and founder of DigitalOptometrics
Proprietary DigitalOptometrics technology allows optometrists to remotely perform full, comprehensive eye exams and issue prescriptions in less than 30 minutes.
Related read:
As Remote Eyecare Gains Traction, Patients and Practitioners See Many Advantages, Vision Monday
Aesthetics
You’ve likely been hearing more about the optometry/aesthetics crossover as a way to diversify your services, make money, and stand out from the crowd. Several exhibitors on the show floor offered entry points into this arena: nourishing products for the delicate skin around the eye, eye drops like Lumify, and equipment for low-level light therapy (LLLT) or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy.
Curious about adding med spa services? Here’s a deeper dive on what it might look like for you:
This Seattle Optometry Practice Took the Plunge and Added Aesthetic Spa Services, Invision
Your Comprehensive Guide to Ocular Aesthetics, Modern Optometry
