From world-class education to celebrity sightings to the latest products and technologies, there was a little bit of something for everyone at this year’s Vision Expo East.
More than 16,000 attendees flocked to the Big Apple from all 50 states and 94 countries for this year's conference, which ran April 14-17. The event featured 350 hours of education, a two-level exhibit hall featuring the latest and greatest in products and technologies, and a variety of networking opportunities. Highlights from this year’s show included a new attendee Buying Program, Eyewear Designers of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (edCFDA) meet and greet, Global Contact Lens Forum, and a New Designer Gallery showcasing up-and-coming designers.
Here’s a look at just a few of the many trends and product launches seen at VEE 2016.
Fabulous Frames
A number of new eyewear collection launches could be seen at VEE, most showing influences from the fashion runways.
For instance, Tura Inc. (pictured left) spotlighted a number of their collections, such as their latest Kate Young for Tura collection. Based on the brand legacy of Tura and inspired by the celebrity stylist, the collection features retro designs with a modern twist using plastics and metals. Tura also featured its gx by Gwen Stefani collection that is all about bold colors and black and white patterns, and its TITANflex Memory Metal collection that marries function with fashion.
Altair Eyewear (pictured right) showcased the latest frames from a number of their lines, such as the revamped frame line from Anne Klein featuring a mix of textures and colors, and the East coast launch of the ZeroGrand collection from Cole Haan that uses the same technology used in the brand's footwear to make durable yet sophisticated and extremely lightweight frames for both men and women.
Leisure Society by Shane Baum (pictured at top) debuted the designer's new En Plein Collection — heirloom-quality titanium frames with either 12, 18 or 24k white, gold or rose gold plating inspired by his travels to the south of France. Designs include the limited edition Monte Carlo sunwear frame that features a gold-plated frame with matching gold-plated mirrored lens and the unisex Lecannet ophthalmic frame with a mix of acetate and metal.
TOMS was also at VEE to showcase their Discoverist Collection of sunwear with ZEISS, as well as their new optical collection featuring brushed metals.
In the sports eyewear category, Liberty Sport unveiled Helmet Spex — the world's first true goggle designed for helmet sports. The goggle features soft rubber end-pieces, contouring straps and vented eye rims, allowing for a sleek and comfortable fit under helmets.
Inspecs launched its new sunglasses and ophthalmic frame collections through their new agreement with legendary musician Carlos Santana. The Carlos by Carlos Santana collection for women and Santana by Carlos Santana collection for men will both feature custom acetates using color swatches from Santana album cover artwork.
Parkman Sunglasses (pictured left) used VEE to launch their new collection of wooden frames with a number of very unique recycled material inlay options, including denim, cork, coffee, magazines, spent grain, and even money!
The new eyewear collection of LIEBESKIND - Berlin made its US debut at its flagship store in New York City during VEE. Distributed in the US by Mosaic Eyewear, the new collection consists of eight frame styles in six color designs using high-quality materials such as cotton fiber acetates with hypoallergenic benefits.
Randolph Engineering spotlighted its Foundry Collection 2016, featuring 12 frame styles for men and women that are inspired by the era of New England Foundries where metals were melted and cast into molds to create shapes.
And during the conference, eyewear brands vied for the honor of being named to the 2016 Vision Expo East Vision Choice Awards. First place winner this year is Specs of Wood — a unique collection of all wood eyewear. Children's frames manufacturer Miraflex won second place, while modular eyewear company Lunette USA took third place.
Innovative Technologies
There were quite a number of new products and services launched at this year’s VEE.
For starters, D-EYE (pictured right) made its debut with its Portable Retinal Imagining System™ — a lens that easily attaches to a smartphone that allows medical practitioners to record a routine exam of the posterior of the eye and then share it with colleagues for further assessment. The lens is attached to the phone using a specially-designed magnetic bumper attachment and requires no external power or lighting.
Another newcomer to VEE was WEAVE, whose software integrates a practitioner's phone system with their practice management software. This way when a patient calls in, all their information is at the fingertips of staff answering the phone. Users can also send two-way texts, set appointment reminders, record calls, and request patient reviews.
During VEE, Essilor of America announced the availability of Smart Blue Filter™ — a clear feature embedded into the lens to reduce exposure to harmful blue light. The filter blocks 20 percent of harmful blue light and allows beneficial blue-turquoise light to pass through. The Smart Blue Filter is available in select Varilux® Digital (PAL) and Eyezen+™ (enhanced SV) products at no additional cost, and is also built in Transitions® adaptive lenses.
Carl Zeiss Vision (pictured left) showcased its new DriveSafe lenses that are designed for patients who need the most help with vision while driving. Visitors to their VEE booth had a chance to try the DriveSafe experience demonstration that featured a Formula One car and game simulator.
And ophthalmic environment and optical display systems manufacturer Eye Designs LLC released its new comprehensive 2016 catalog at VEE, providing practitioners with a full look at the company's services, collections and merchandising systems, as well as project-specific information to help walk ECPs step-by-step through the entire process.
Vision Expo East 2017 will take place March 30-April 2, 2017 at the Javits Center in New York City. For more information, visit VisionExpoEast.com.