NORWALK, Conn.—International Vision Expo West posted a 5 percent increase in overall show attendance from last year, according to an announcement from show organizers. The four-day event, which wrapped up on Oct. 5 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, drew approximately 13,000 attendees from 89 countries, and featured some 5,000 brands, lines and products from over 425 exhibitors. A detailed, third-party audit of attendance figures at International Vision Expo West will be available in November.

“International Vision Expo is unlike any other medical meeting,” said Courtney Muller, group vice president for Reed Exhibitions. “Each year, we are challenged with sourcing and delivering the most innovative eyewear and eyecare products, technologies and comprehensive solutions for our attendees, their businesses and, ultimately, their patients. This is not a sleepy industry. The buzz from attendees around the variety of products and technologies at this year’s show was a testament to that; and there’s a lot more in store for 2014.”

New this year, International Vision Expo West expanded beyond its six fashion- and medical-related Pavilions to include an experiential area in partnership with Vision Monday called the Eye² Zone. The destination featured some of the most innovative products on the market from 12 different exhibitors and included Daily Tech Talks around the next generation of vision technology. To aid show floor navigation to this specialty area and others, show organizers added an interactive map feature, SmartRoute, to its award-winning Vision Expo Mobile app.

Innovative technology was also integrated into the classroom for easy-viewing of education handouts and evaluations, in addition to expand-on-demand classroom assignments. The enhancements to the Continuing Education Program contributed to a double-digit increase of 12 percent in conference attendance from last year.

For more information about International Vision Expo West, including event highlights, images and video recaps from the show, visit www.visionexpowest.com.

To read the Digital Editions of Vision Monday’s Show Dailies and to view slideshows of VM’s coverage at the show, go to VisionMonday.com. Look for more slideshows of parties and receptions at Vision Expo coming your way later this week on VisionMonday.com.