During its 39th year, Vision Expo East abandoned its long -standing roots in New York for Orlando, Florida, where thousands of eyes and glasses have descended to the Orange County Convention Center (OCC) from February 19 to 22. Ashley Mills, CEO of the Council vision, which produces the show alongside RX, told TSNN that the South Movement “reflected coherent comments from industry and the main stakeholders” after the iteration in 2024 of the program saw an increase in professionals based in Florida and participants from Latin America and Pererto Rico.
“Our inaugural event of Orlando made a huge success with an overwhelming representation of the participants for the first time,” added Mills, noting that the decision of the Council vision of exchanging the concrete jungle for a “pleasant time” had paid the East 2025 vision for the apples of not much more important than its previous years, when it has filled Javits Center Javits.
Although it is not immediately clear how the attendance has developed from one year to the next (Vision Exo does not arrange its attendance numbers), more than 400 exhibiting companies have participated in the event. The figure was tied with past years, although more than doubled the living room space meant that the stands were larger and more innovative than ever. “This decision allowed us to offer improved experiences, build a more dynamic show floor and plan a new exciting program,” said Mills, bringing the house point.
Here are the elements of the show that made their debut at Vision Expo East 2025:
Main scene
For the first time in nearly four decades, Vision Expo East built a main scene to host daily group discussions and interviews on stage.
“A variety of optical experts went to the main scene of the exhibition vision to discuss the hot subjects of the industry such as the implementation of the AI, sustainability, business and manufacturing efficiency,” said Mills, adding that the scene also hosted two fashion shows during the four -day event: the showcase now trendy and displays the frame of the frame showcase.
According to Mills, the “masterpiece” of live programming was a main tennis superstar, who came with Williams, who spent his 45 minutes on stage with the seasoned sporting broadcaster Kelly Tilghman telling his inspiring career on and off the field as a successful entrepreneur.
Resource center
New this year, the Resource Center was “a central center for activations, experiences, knowledge, (and) career potential,” said Mills. In addition to accessing the basic information of the shows here, industry organizations such as the Vision Council and United Opticians Association were present to help networking and promoting conversations on trends and industry information.
According to Mills, remarkable contact points at the Resource Center included an analysis of matters with Saflio, an Italian glasses manufacturer, as well as free head fire for participants to build their personal wallet.
Launch pad
Within the brand new resource center, a space nicknamed the launch ramp which was designed “to highlight the new technological launches on the market”, occupied by eight companies presenting their latest optical innovations, said Mills.
Over -the -counter showcase
Shortly free of charge, this so-called “functionality zone” was also located in the resource center and highlighted direct brands to consumers.
The Speakeasy Indie Laboratory
During the previous events of Vision Expo East, the independent laboratories were only a group of participants, but during the Orlando event, they received their own dedicated space designed to inspire connections with ECP (including optometrists, ophthalmologists and opticians) to share information on their respective laboratories and research.
Platinum club
Buyers accommodated, media members and social media influencers were invited to Vision Expo East’s Platinum Club this year. The improved VIP zone – which factories call an “oasis” – have agreed with small meetings and interviews, and offered additional amenities adapted to a VIP.
Improved networking areas
Participants had the chance to take advantage of networking in five dedicated areas through the show, three of which were new to Vision Expo East.
The vision zone of the inaugural Pearle, for example, has come to life as an interactive space with a catering truck and arcade games, while the new all-all conferred Conferement was a French-inspired fair equipped with a barista. Speaking of international influences, at the Zeiss German Beer Garden, the Stein brand, at free German beer, the Bretzels and the popcorn was proposed to encourage fortuitous conversations.
The networking also abounded during other conference events, including the festival of the opening evening and music, which was redesigned this year thanks to the new location of the conference. With a new ability to spread its wings in a new destination, the exhibition did exactly that, organizing its opening evening in several sites in the Orlando cutting -edge shopping district.
“We have created a new environment that brought together industry professionals in a dynamic setting with live music, including industry celebrities” The Eye Docs of Rock “, as well as a country group and a DJ,” said Mills.
It was “Vision Expo 2.0 – A new age of the show”, according to the long -standing optometrist and participant of Vision Expo, Dr. Sophia Visanji.
Glasses and eyes professionals can expect Vision Expo East 2026 to return to Sunshine State. It will take place from March 11 to 14, 2026 in the west. Meanwhile, Vision Expo West 2025 is scheduled for September 17 to 20 at the Venetian in Las Vegas.
Photos Gracious Anthony Less and Vision Expo
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