LAS VEGAS—Vision Expo West 2023 has just begun at The Venetian Convention Center & Expo here in Las Vegas. We extend a warm welcome to all attendees on behalf of the show organizers, The Vision Council and RX. This year's event boasts over 400 exhibiting companies on the lively show floor, premieres the brand-new EYEnovate series, enhances education opportunities, streamlines the attendee experience, and presents an exciting lineup of engaging sessions and energetic events centered around buzzworthy industry topics.

A new concept has been introduced to the Vision Expo West exhibit hall: three designated Show Floor Avenues: Park Ave, Union Ave, and Focus Ave, have been established to ensure a seamless and efficient attendee experience. The Look East neighborhood has been unveiled at Vision Expo West, which spotlights a carefully curated selection from top suppliers in Asia.

Additional Show Floor neighborhoods include:

The Focus: a neighborhood at the forefront of the future of vision care, showcasing innovations in lens processing, medical and diagnostic technology, disease management solutions, contact lens advancements and practice optimization.

Panorama: this neighborhood provides a comprehensive overview of the rapidly evolving technology landscape in the vision industry. It highlights cutting-edge business solutions, medical advancements, software developments and wearable technologies that are shaping the future of the industry.

The Atelier: located in the heart of the Union, this hub is an intersection of fashion, art, culture and masterful craftsmanship from independent designers worldwide, dedicated to showcasing some of the finest artisanal creations in the industry.

The Park: this neighborhood, considered the central destination for the eyewear experience at Vision Expo West, showcases a wide range of fashion, sports and prestige eyewear. Visitors can immerse themselves in large-scale exhibits that represent the future of eyewear and feature beloved brands.

The Union: a lively hub within Vision Expo, this area is dedicated to independent design. It's a vibrant showcase that serves as the fashion pulse of the event, featuring new collection launches, exciting pop-culture collaboration, and some of the hottest trends in the industry.

The Suites: The Suites, located on the 35th floor of The Venetian Hotel, offer exclusive access to luxury fashion houses, creating an intimate and unparalleled buying experience. Visitors can explore a diverse collection of standout brands.

Today, an entirely new program, EYEnovate, is premiering on the Vision Expo Innovation Stage. This fresh and engaging content series shines a spotlight on groundbreaking technological innovations in the optical industry. EYEnovate is committed to delving into the forefront of advancements in eyecare technology, presenting 15-minute talks by experts in various fields. These talks will highlight the most recent developments in artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, surgical tools, VR/AR and other emerging technologies.

The first EYEnovate session kicks off today from 9:45 to 10:45 am with InflammX, Uptime Health, EYE-GO, and Myoptechs. A panel of industry leaders including Ashley Mills, chief executive officer of The Vision Council, James Rosin, co-president of Rosin Optical Co., and Susy Yu, OD, MBA, FAAO, director of Business Strategy and Operations Support for Vision Essentials by Kaiser Permanente, will judge all EYEnovate presentations and select one participant to receive the first-ever Ocular Horizons Award, which will be announced on Friday, September 29.  

Today, OptiCon @ Vision Expo makes a comeback at Vision Expo West, offering an exceptional education program and exhibit hall experience tailored to opticians, contact lens professionals, allied ophthalmic professionals, optical assistants, office managers, frame buyers, and lab technicians. OptiCon sessions cover various topics, including precise frame fitting, insider secrets of celebrity eyewear, and in-depth discussions about stocking versus surfacing and laser exploration.

Today, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on the Innovation Stage, the OptiCon General Session will feature a conversation between Blair Wong, ABOM, NCLEC, and Rebecca Alexander. Rebecca Alexander, who has been losing both her vision and hearing due to Usher Syndrome (type 3), will share her inspiring story of facing challenges and providing encouragement to others.