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Vision Expo 2026 Launches “Call for NEW” to Spotlight Industry Innovation

Vision Expo new logo

Vision Expo 2026, co-owned by RX and The Vision Council, has introduced Call for NEW, a new initiative created to highlight the most anticipated product debuts, technologies and innovations across the optical industry. The show will take place March 11–14, 2026 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, marking Vision Expo’s first unified annual event.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Vision Expo 2026 aims to bring the global vision community together while emphasizing forward-looking innovation. “By unifying the show into a single annual event, we’re creating the most impactful platform possible for product launches, next-generation technologies, and the solutions that will drive eyecare and eyewear forward,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council. “‘Call for NEW’ gives brands a dedicated spotlight for their breakthroughs and offers attendees a clear way to discover the products and ideas shaping the future of the industry.”

Call for NEW Initiative

The program invites exhibitors to submit information about their latest products, technologies, collaborations, booth activations and innovations set to debut at Vision Expo 2026. Selected submissions will receive tailored promotional opportunities to boost visibility and engagement on the show floor.

Highlighted innovations may include diagnostic technologies, advanced manufacturing tools, AI-enabled business platforms, practice management solutions and trend-forward eyewear collections.

Vision Expo 2026 is expected to feature more than 350 exhibitors, representing leading eyewear designers, major vision care companies, health and diagnostics innovators, and developers of emerging technology. The event will also offer over 220 hours of accredited continuing education beginning March 11, with the exhibit hall opening on March 12. Networking events, partner programs and after-hours activities will round out the schedule.

Exhibitors can submit NEW products and activations through the Call for NEW submission page. Selected participants will be notified at the end of January.

For more details, visit visionexpo.com.

Source: Vision Expo

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EssilorLuxottica Joins Forces with Fondazione Chips-IT to Accelerate the Future of Smart Eyewear

EssilorLuxottica

EssilorLuxottica announces it is joining forces with Fondazione Chips-IT, Italy’s research center specializing in advanced integrated-circuit design, during today’s presentation of the foundation’s 2026-2028 strategic plan. This collaboration aims to further strengthen the Group’s leadership in smart eyewear by advancing application-specific chip development within Chips-IT’s open-hardware environment, unlocking new levels of customization, optimization and performance. By working closely with Chips-IT engineers and select industry partners, EssilorLuxottica will seek to deliver enhanced capabilities and elevate the next generation of wearables.

Aligned with its open and collaborative approach, EssilorLuxottica plans to release select components of its wearable platforms as open-source hardware. By tapping into shared knowledge, collaborative resources and tools, the partnership is designed to accelerate research and development, inspire new thinking in ultra-low-power electronics, sensors and wearable computing, and push the boundaries of smart eyewear in design, functionality and user experience.

“Realizing the full potential of smart eyewear means reimagining the electronics at its core in a way that truly meets the unique needs of our industry. To deliver on that vision, we’ve invested over the years in platforms, technologies and advanced sensing capabilities, building from the ground up the foundational components that enable eyewear to deliver seamless and transformative experiences, opening a new era in healthcare, intelligent assistance and immersive digital interaction”, commented Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO at EssilorLuxottica.

Fondazione Chips-IT is a research and technology organization dedicated to advancing integrated circuit design research across Italy and Europe. Its core mission is to push the boundaries of integrated circuit design, investigating next-generation chip architecture, optimizing electronic design automation workflows and nurturing new design paradigms. Being pivotal point of the Italian semiconductor ecosystem and through collaborative research programs and tailored collaborations, Fondazione Chips-IT empowers researchers, startups, SMEs and corporates with the expertise and infrastructure needed to compete globally and shape a resilient, future-ready semiconductor ecosystem.

Click HERE for the press release.

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J.F. Rey Unveils New Women’s Collection Showcasing Exceptional Craftsmanship and Mastery of Colour

JF Rey Collection Femme Dec 2025

J.F. Rey is introducing its new Women’s Collection, a striking reflection of the brand’s artistic innovation and its long-standing ability to reinvent design and colour. Anchored in its signature “Beyond Limits” spirit, the collection stands out for its free, inventive chromatic expression, remarkable in both richness and finesse.

Offered in 11 shapes and 55 colours, the collection highlights meticulous craftsmanship across metal, acetate, and combination frames. Three distinct lines structure the series, each guided by its own creative intention yet unified by a singular vision: color as a connecting thread, an expression of emotion and a defining element of identity.

Designed to fit all face shapes, including thin faces, thanks to specific XS sizes in the metal and combined lines, the collection also features Totem hinges, an exclusive J.F. Rey creation and a visual signature of the concept.

Playful associations, unexpected contrasts, subtle gradients, graphic overlays, and luminous transparencies are orchestrated with remarkable technical mastery. The result is a set of frames that push design boundaries, achieving exceptional chromatic and structural outcomes.

This sophisticated use of colour, unique to the J.F. Rey universe, gives each frame a strong and instantly recognizable presence, reflecting precision of craft, a refined sense of contrast, and a passion for beautiful materials. Balancing aesthetics, technique, and emotion, the collection embodies the brand’s artistic vision and exacting standards: bold yet sensitive, resolutely contemporary, and expressive in every detail.

Metal Series – Size XS for Thin Faces

JF3113, JF3114, JF3116, JF3117

JF Rey metal New Woman 6


Soft in pigment yet bold in silhouette, these frames feature harmonious contrasts and unprecedented gradients, crafted like delicate layers of pigment. Light moves freely across the surfaces, producing subtle, almost iridescent reflections that add depth and modern elegance.

Metal & Acetate Combined Series – Size XS for Thin Faces

JF3118, JF3119, JF3120, JF3121

JF Rey meta acetate New Woman 1


Metal and acetate enter into a perfectly balanced, almost instinctive dialogue. This soft-yet-bold duality, signature to the brand, creates refined, contemporary sophistication as the materials enrich one another.

Acetate Series

JF1578, JF1579, JF1580

JF Rey acetate New Woman 5


This line explores silky transparencies, delicate tonalities, and carefully placed color accents that create rhythm and character. The frames gain depth, fluidity, and personality, revealing a unique expression under every light.

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opti 2026 Unveils TOMORROW VISION and opti SPHEARE: New Platforms for Contact Lens Innovation and Hearing Care

Opti Munich 2026 logo

opti 2026 will spotlight two major growth drivers for the global vision and hearing sectors with the launch of TOMORROW VISION, a next-generation innovation hub for contact lenses, and opti SPHEARE, a new 250-m² centre dedicated to hearing care excellence. Both formats aim to deliver hands-on education, new business opportunities, and forward-looking insights for eye care and hearing professionals attending the Munich trade show.

TOMORROW VISION: A High-Energy Showcase for Contact Lens Innovation

Located in Hall C4, TOMORROW VISION 2026 positions contact lenses as a strategic growth category for optical retail. Under the theme “Play smart. Move free.”, leading manufacturers — including ALCON, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, HECHT Contactlinsen, Mark’ennovy, Menicon, MPG&E, Seed Group and others — will present new lens technologies and practice-building concepts.

The stage will double as a performance zone featuring live demos, expert talks, and action-driven presentations guided by business psychologist Claudia Bechstein. Athletes and opticians will demonstrate how contact lenses support freedom of movement and visual performance, complemented by show-stopping moments such as a basketball dunk showcase and performances by the FC Bayern Basketball Cheerleader Allstars.

opti SPHEARE: A New Experiential World for Hearing Care

Debuting in Hall C3, opti SPHEARE is designed for optical retailers exploring expansion into hearing care. Providers such as Actric, Bellman & Symfon, Meditrend, Nuance Audio, Smart Optics Sensortechnik, Sound & Silence and others will present technologies and business solutions supporting entry into the hearing market.

The program is organized into four clusters — Market & Future, Practice & Implementation, Customers & Sales, and Technology & Innovation — delivered through keynotes, best-practice cases and compact mini-panels. The format will be hosted by Michael Luikenga, master hearing care professional and optician, trainer, and consultant.

A Strategic Focus on Future Growth

“With TOMORROW VISION and opti SPHEARE, opti 2026 highlights two key future fields that will sustainably shape specialist retail,” says Cathleen Kabashi, Director of opti. These formats underscore the rising economic potential of contact lenses and the expanding opportunities for optical businesses entering hearing care.

Source: opti

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EssilorLuxottica Introduces Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 Lenses to Canada, Advancing Childhood Myopia Management

Essilor Stellest 2.0 lenses

EssilorLuxottica has expanded its Canadian myopia management portfolio with the launch of Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 lenses, officially unveiled at the 2025 THE Myopia Meeting. This next-generation design builds on over 40 years of research and clinical expertise, addressing the rapid rise of childhood myopia with stronger efficacy and improved optical performance.

The new lenses advance the success of the original Essilor® Stellest® lenses—now recognized globally as one of the most effective spectacle-based myopia control solutions. Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 lenses introduce H.A.L.T. MAX technology*, which generates twice the depth of volume of non-focused light compared to the first-generation design. This enhanced optical signal is engineered to slow axial elongation, the underlying cause of myopia progression.

Clinical results from a 12-month randomized, double-masked study in Singapore show that Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 lenses significantly reduce axial elongation relative to the original lens, while maintaining clear vision for children as young as six.

“Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 lenses represent a significant leap forward in efficacy, offering children a better chance at healthy vision for life,” said Bruce Miles, General Manager, Professional Solutions EssilorLuxottica Canada and Head of HumanWare.

The upgraded design features a larger-diameter lens and retains key benefits of the previous generation, including Crizal® Rock™ coating and Airwear® polycarbonate, offering impact resistance and full UV protection. Essilor® Stellest® lenses and Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 will both remain available, giving eye care professionals a broader toolkit for managing pediatric myopia.

Essilor® Stellest® 2.0 lenses will be available to Canadian patients starting early 2026 through eye care professionals nationwide.

Click HERE for the press release.

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