The Apple of Our Eye
Vision Expo East 2024 concludes its nearly 40-year legacy of optical excellence in New York City with one final bang, featuring more than 450 eyewear and eyecare companies showcasing their latest designs, technologies, and innovations across 150,000 square feet of exhibit space.
Taking place March 14-17 at the Javits Center, this year’s event, organized by The Vision Council and RX, intends to pay homage to its NYC legacy before relocating to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, in 2025.
Familiar Neighborhoods
A steadfast feature of Vision Expo, the trade show neighborhoods provide a curated experience to help attendees navigate the expansive exhibition space with areas dedicated to focused sectors of the industry.
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The Park, heart of the eyewear hub, showcases the latest offerings from ubiquitous industry icons within large-scale displays. Described as the “incubator for emerging talent,” The Springs highlights select styles from new designers in business for less than five years. The Union provides the ultimate shopping experience with new, on-trend collection launches and collaborations with pop-culture icons, located front and center of the exhibit floor. The Atelier hosts the latest artisanal launches from independent designers, an ideal spot for shoppers of luxury retail boutiques. Showcasing the most innovative suppliers from Asia,
Look East provides an expansive assortment of frames, eyewear components, and accessories.
Shifting from eyewear to tech, The Focus gathers industry leaders of lenses, contact lenses, processing techniques and equipment, practice optimization tools, and disease management solutions. The Panorama offers a glimpse of the frontier of vision technology, featuring cutting-edge business solutions, software, medical innovations, and more.
Presentations + Parties
In addition to the expansive exhibition area, Vision Expo East offers a robust lineup of presentations designed to inspire and opportunities for networking + blowing off steam.
Friday, March 15
10-10:30 a.m.
Eyecare Business Trends in Eyewear
Kick off Friday with EB editor-in-chief Erinn Morgan, EB managing editor Kerri Ann Raimo, and Eyecons agency founder + CEO Tarrence Lackran with a curated selection of the biggest fashion trends in eyewear for the Spring 2024 season—plus innovative
ways to showcase them in your practice.
Location: The Bridge
12:30-1:30 p.m.
OptiCon General Session: A Conversation With Rebecca Alexander
Rebecca Alexander, LCSW-R, MPH, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Usher syndrome (type 3). She was told by the age of 30, she’d be completely blind, and after a tragic accident at 19, she learned she’d lose her hearing as well. By sharing her experience, the author, psychotherapist, fitness and yoga instructor, advocate, and extreme athlete intends to encourage and inspire others to overcome their own
challenges.
Location: Innovation Stage
2:25-3:25 p.m.
Visionaries Unveiled: Education for Change Makers
New this year, this series intends to disrupt the industry with game-changing ideas, technologies, and strategies from industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts who are pushing the boundaries and rethinking what’s possible for the eyewear sector.
Location: The Bridge
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Second Annual Now Awards
The Now Pavilion showcases the trends shaping the eyewear industry, and awards will honor the best across four categories: Best Sunglass Award, Best Optical Award, Optical Achievement Award, and the People’s Choice Award. Join for the awards presentation, panel discussion, and a champagne toast for the winners.
Location: The Bridge
5-6:30 p.m.
Stars, Sips, and
Scholarships
The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) continues the celebration of 2024 OWA Award recipients Marge Axelrad, Rebecca Giefer, Trudi Charest, and Reagan Colpitts at its cocktail + networking event.
Location: South Concourse, Hall E Atrium
9-11:59 p.m.
Opening Night Party
A hallmark of all Vision Expo events, longtime rock band comprising practicing optometrists Bad Habits, also known as the Eye Docs of Rock, will serve up an evening of classic rock hits. Bring your dancing shoes along with your attendee badge for entry.
Location: Sony Hall at The Paramount Hotel Times Square, 235. W. 46th St.
Saturday, March 16
4:15-5:15 p.m.
Q+A, Performance by Sophie B. Hawkins
Known for her ’90s hit
“Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover,” NYC icon Sophie B. Hawkins will perform some of her hits and discuss music, her new album, and fashion alongside an Eye Doc of Rock, Jules, from Bad Habits.
Location: The Bridge
Sunday, March 17
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Career Zone
A steadfast feature of Vision Expo, Career Zone is the hub for young professionals and students, featuring a schedule of programming in addition to opportunities for networking with industry leaders seeking new hires.
Location: The Bridge
Education Highlights
Packed with inspiring presentations and opportunities for networking and fun, Vision Expo East also includes a robust schedule of accredited educational offerings. Here, a curated selection of highlights with our readers in mind.
Thursday, March 14
Boost your Social Media Performance:
• 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Mastering Social Media: 10 Tips to Level Up Your Game
• 9:45-10:45 a.m.
The TikTok and
Instagram Video Revolution: Crafting Engaging Content for Maximum Impact
• 11 a.m. to Noon
Measuring Social Media ROI: How to Track the Success of Your Online Presence
8:30-9:30 a.m.
What’s New and Sexy in Contacts? offers an overview of the latest developments in materials, care systems, and designs shaping the future of contact lenses.
2:15-3:15 p.m.
Myopia Control: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly explores mainstream modalities for myopia control with a focus on potential risks and benefits.
5-6 p.m.
Working With Pediatrics covers the benefits of cultivating a pediatric patient base.
Friday, March 15
9:45-10:45 a.m.
Building a Winning
Culture: Going Beyond Paychecks and Perks offers 10 big ideas on how to build a winning culture to benefit employee retention.
11 a.m. to Noon
Exit Strategies for Slow-Selling Frame Inventory covers methods for moving slow-selling frames while maximizing profit.
2:45-4:45 p.m.
Dealing With Difficult Patients and Troubleshooting offers tips on navigating conversations with difficult customers and troubleshooting guides for complex prescriptions.
Saturday, March 16
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Psychological Safety in the Workplace discusses fostering a psychologically safe environment to
benefit staff retention and productivity.
9:45-10:45 a.m.
5 Practical Strategies for Improving Your Bottom Line explores five easy-to-implement strategies for increasing profitability.
2:45-4:45 p.m.
How To Navigate the New Digital Landscape shares secrets from successful retailers in a workshop designed to help eyecare professionals thrive in today’s competitive environment.
Sunday, March 17
7:15-8:15 a.m.
Lens Materials Matter, but So Does Everything Else takes a deep dive into matching frames and lenses to create the optimal product for a patient’s individual needs.
1-3 p.m.
Selling Efficiently and Effectively in a Busy Practice offers a template for opticians to successfully accomplish thorough frame and lens selections with effective time management.
1-3 p.m.
The Opticians Guide to Understanding Genetic Eye Diseases provides opticians with an understanding of the aspects of genetic diseases, including an overview of ocular anatomy, with an emphasis on the optician’s vital role in patient care.
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