ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Vision Council and RX, co-organizers of Vision Expo, announced the lineup of events scheduled to take place on the Innovation Stage at Vision Expo West, taking place September 14-17 in Las Vegas. To register for Vision Expo West, click here. Designed to serve as the main stage destination on the Show floor, dedicated to groundbreaking content and the products and services revolutionizing the vision care industry, the Innovation Stage will host a new keynote speaker and a number of engaging panels, including the EYE2EYE Series, an educational series designed to inform, empower and challenge attendees.

The Innovation Stage will be headlined by a keynote presentation from globally recognized innovation strategist Shawn Kanungo, who will share his innovation playbook and provide tips on how to make a dent in the world of eyecare during his presentation, “The Future of Eyecare is Human,” scheduled for Thursday, September 15 at 4:00 p.m., followed by a welcome reception.
 
“We are excited to share the Innovation Stage experience we have planned for Vision Expo West,” said Fran Pennella, vice president, Vision Expo, RX, co-owner of Vision Expo. “Throughout the Show, the Innovation Stage will be an energetic gathering place for attendees to connect with their peers, learn from industry experts and gain new insights from visionary leaders.”
 
“From eyewear fashion trends and the vision industry’s place in the metaverse to conversations on the future of sustainability practices in the industry and the role of virtual reality in vision care, we’ve curated a lineup of speakers covering critical topic areas and cutting-edge solutions to improve patient care and the customer experience,” said Mitch Barkley, vice president of Trade Shows and Events at The Vision Council, co-organizer of Vision Expo.
 
For the full schedule of Innovation Stage events, reference the Special Events page on Vision Expo’s website, filterable by date and location, here. Schedule is subject to change.  On-site, attendees are encouraged to reference the Vision Expo mobile app for the most up-to-date schedule.
 
The EYE2EYE Series kicks off on Thursday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. with a presentation highlighting innovation trends in eyewear, from smart eyewear to sustainable options, from Eyecare Business. The trends presentation will be followed by an EYE2EYE Series panel titled “Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Optometry,” which will span telemedicine, the medical model, corporate optometry, and how to navigate the impacts of a pandemic, inflation, consolidation, private equity and more.
 
Two additional EYE2EYE panels will be held on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. and later at 2:45 p.m. and will explore the optical industry’s role in the metaverse and sustainability within the optical industry, respectively. During the sustainability session, panelists from various segments of the industry will discuss the measures they are taking to reduce waste, lower their carbon footprint, advance recycling initiatives, and promote ways for eyecare providers to do the same at the practice level.
 
Also on Thursday, September 15, The Contact Lens Institute and The Vision Council will present their latest research findings with “Recession-Proof Your Practice: New Research Reveals Highest Value Products & Services” and “Connecting With Your Patients in a Connected World” at 1:15 p.m.
 
On Friday, September 16, the Innovation Stage kicks off at 10:00 a.m. with the latest AREDS2 research presented by Bausch + Lomb’s Dr. Jeffry Gerson. This will be followed by a presentation from Hoya Vision Care on ways to optimize lens performance at your office.
 
Also on Friday at 11:30 a.m., the Innovation Stage will host an additional panel discussion on myopia, highlighting the latest innovations in myopia management, equipping practitioners with communication tools for parents and patients and providing insight into the perspectives and experiences of ECPs on the leading edge of myopia management.
 
At 12:30 p.m., Bausch + Lomb will present “A New Solution to an Old Problem (Biotrue Hydration Plus MPS),” followed by MacuHealth’s presentation on “Vitreous Antioxidants and Vitreous Floaters.”
 
From 2:00 - 2:30 p.m., the Young ODs of America (YODA) will host a panel discussion about building tomorrow’s practices. They will explore innovative ways to hire and get hired.
 
The EYE2EYE Series returns at 2:45 p.m. on Friday with “Virtual Reality for Vision Therapies,” an exploration of how the latest advances in VR and AR are powering multi-sensory learning disability screening, diagnostic and therapy tools, for multiple visual/learning disorders. Friday’s schedule will conclude at 3:30 p.m. with a panel presented by the National Optometric Association (NOA) focused on addressing racial disparities.
 
Event highlights are included below. The event schedule is subject to change. Check Vision Expo’s website or mobile app for the most up-to-date schedule.
 
Thursday, September 15
10:00 - 10:30 a.m.          
EYE2EYE Series: Eyecare Business Top 5 Innovation Trends in Eyewear
 
10:45 - 11:15 a.m.
EYE2EYE Series: Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Optometry
 
11:30 a.m. -12:15 p.m.  
EYE2EYE Series: The Optical Metaverse
 
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
The Contact Lens Institute and The Vision Council Present Their Latest Research Findings
 
2:45 - 3:30 p.m.   
EYE2EYE Series: A Panel Discussion on Sustainability
 
4:00 -  4:45 p.m.
Innovation Stage Keynote Presentation by Globally recognized innovation strategist, Shawn Kanungo: The Future of Eyecare is Human
 
5:00 - 6:00 p.m 
Welcome Reception
 
Friday, September 16
10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
The Latest AREDS2 10-year follow-on study (PreserVision), presented by Bausch + Lomb
 
10:45 - 11:15 a.m.
How to Optimize Lens Performance in Your Office, presented by Hoya Vision Care
 
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Myopia Matters: Communicating the Latest Innovations to Parents, Patients and Peers
 
12:30 - 1:00 p.m.
A New Solution to an Old Problem (Biotrue Hydration Plus MPS), presented by Bausch + Lomb
 
1:15 – 1:45 p.m.
Vitreous Antioxidants and Vitreous Floaters: We Now Can Do Something to Help Patients Suffering with Vitreous Floaters, presented by MacuHealth
 
2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Building Tomorrow’s Practices: Innovative Ways to Hire and Get Hired, a panel discussion featuring the Young OD’s of America (YODA)
 
2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
EYE2EYE Series: Virtual Reality for Vision Therapies
 
3:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Innovation in Eyecare: Addressing Racial Disparities, presented by the National Optometric Association (NOA)
 
Vision Expo West 2022 will take place at The Venetian Convention Center & Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada from Sept. 14 - 17, 2022. The Show’s educational program, together with OptiCon@Vision Expo, will open Wednesday, Sept. 14 and exhibits will open Thursday, Sept. 15.