Latest News Vision Expo East Programs Address Industry Growth and Eyecare’s Outlook By Staff Monday, April 11, 2016 12:18 AM NEW YORK—Show organizers are putting the finishing touches on programs and plans for Vision Expo East to be held at the Javits Center here from April 14 to 17. The event, now in its 30th year, coincides with news from The Vision Council that the eyewear industry is stronger than ever, according to statistics from its 2015 U.S. Optical Industry Report Card. Highlights include:• In 2015, 76.2 percent of the U.S. adult population wore any form of vision correction, representing a growth of 2.1 percent compared to 2014.• There was a 6.3 percent rise in the number of U.S. adults wearing prescription sunglasses (11.7 percent of the adult population, compared to 11.2 percent in 2014) and a 3.4 percent rise in the number of U.S. adults wearing contact lenses (16.4 percent of the adult population, compared to 16.0 percent in 2014).• Industry revenue in the U.S. increased for all types of vision correction, including frames, lenses, contact lenses, plano sunglasses, OTC readers, eye exams and refractive surgery, with the highest rise being the sales of lenses ($12.6 billion in 2015, an increase of 7.9 percent on 2014) and contact lenses ($4.7 billion in 2015, an increase of 5.4 percent on 2014).• There was a 3 percent rise in the number of eye exams in the U.S. (113.9 million) compared to 2014 (110.6 million).Vision Expo East offers timely new programs to address this growth, the future state of eyecare and how professionals can position themselves for success, show organizers said. Out of more than 320 hours of robust, expert-driven education, the 2016 curriculum presents multiple courses, which will focus on the way eyecare practice and technology are poised to revolutionize the profession and industry. Course highlights include: Smart Contact Lenses: The Future is Now; Team Healthcare: What’s Your Role in the Practice of the Future?; Preparing Your Practice for the Future: EHR Incentive Audits, ICD-10 and Quality Reporting; What’s the Future of Online Refraction?; and Smart Contact Lens and Other Future Eye Care Technology“The development of Vision Expo education is led by eyecare’s top thought leaders, and as such, the content is a unique reflection of the most pressing issues facing professionals,” said Mark Dunbar, OD, co-chair of the Conference Advisory Board. “Topics are carefully picked and cultivated to address the interests of the entire eyecare community. As a result, Vision Expo education is always forward-focused and provides the most complete and most robust curriculum available.”For further information, visit www.VisionExpoEast.com.