International Vision Expo & Conference concluded on September 20 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas following four days of product-launches and a robust education program, proving that the event is the industry’s top choice for learning and is the preferred buying event.
Preliminary attendance reports indicate the event attracted over 12,500 attendees, following 2013’s record-breaking 25th anniversary year. More than 450 brands were showcased in an exhibit hall spanning the length of three football fields, and attendees were introduced to more than 400 hours of new and popular Continuing Education developed by a conference advisory board representing the breadth of the field.
International Vision Expo is the eyecare profession’s largest destination for learning and discovery and, most importantly, fulfilling needs to purchase the newest products and technologies.
The annual New Product Showcase, one of the event’s biggest attractions, unveiled the next generation of frames, sunwear, optical technologies and designer trends. This year’s winners: Amphibia Sports, LLC (1st place), Avantek Eyewear by Hoya (2nd place), and Specs of Wood (3rd place) represented attendees top picks for 2014, and helped to spur interest in the variety of innovations found throughout the exhibit hall.
“I come to Vision Expo every year to buy frames and [take advantage of] good show specials,” said Phuong Quach, O.D., Castaic Optometry. “I get some classes in, but I mainly go to the exhibit hall. This is the one time I make big purchases that will last the whole year.”
Notably, over 4,200 eyecare professionals participated in Continuing Education for Vision Expo West 2014, taking advantage of courses that focused their content around hot clinical and business topics such as healthcare reform, the implications and future of wearable technology, and improving the diagnosis, treatment and management of eye diseases.
“Vision Expo is at the forefront of providing education that directly addresses the questions that eyecare professionals’ are receiving from their patients and customers,” said Tom Loughran, group vice president, Reed Exhibitions. “This year’s new Wearable Technology track is an example of how our education program is evolving based on ongoing attendee feedback that tells us they come to Vision Expo to see new products and the latest technology that is resonating with informed consumers, and that is shaping the future of the profession.”
To enhance the education experience, Vision Expo launched an interactive education format called crowd sourced learning to rave reviews. Crowd sourced sessions put the attendees in control of driving the content they want and need the speakers to cover. By pairing dynamic and diverse speakers with the technology to deliver this new learning platform, the Conference delivered memorable programs that will set the bar for learning in the future. Moreover, the investment in these tools reinforced the influence new technology is having across all aspects of the Vision Expo Experience.
“The dynamics of the eyecare industry are changing rapidly and Vision Expo is at the epicenter of those changes, delivering education and exhibiting opportunities that instill knowledge, passion and foster new ideas,” said Deborah Castor, vice president, Shows & Meetings for The Vision Council. “Vision Expo brings together visionaries from every corner of the eyecare community. The event is the most vibrant platform for showcasing the business, technical and healthcare innovations that are revolutionizing the industry.”
International Vision Expo & Conference conducts a detailed, third-party audit of attendance at International Vision Expo West. Verified figures by a third-party auditor will be available in November. For more information about International Vision Expo West, including event highlights, images and video recaps, visitwww.visionexpowest.com, or connect on Facebook (www.facebook.com/visionexpo), Twitter (@VisionExpo), Instagram (intlvisionexpo), and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/IntlVisionExpo).