MIDO has opened registration for its 2027 edition, taking place February 6–8, 2027 at Fiera Milano Rho. Organizers describe the upcoming show as an edition marked by “continuous evolution,” with returning exhibitors, new companies joining the event, and a strengthened international presence across the eyewear sector.
With more than 50 years of history, MIDO continues to position itself as a global platform for the entire eyewear and optical supply chain. Each year, the event attracts professionals from over 160 countries, including major companies, emerging designers, frame and lens manufacturers, machinery suppliers, opticians, buyers and distributors.
A single platform for the global eyewear industry
MIDO will again highlight its dedicated spaces for new generations of professionals and designers: Academy and Start Up. Exhibitors will have access to an international setting to present new products, collections and solutions, meet industry stakeholders and develop new business opportunities. The event aims to foster connections across business, innovation, creativity, education and research.
The Vision Stage: 20 years of industry culture
A defining feature of MIDO, The Vision Stage, returns in Pavilion 1 with approximately 20 events over three days. The platform has hosted industry leaders as well as voices from culture, economics, creativity, innovation and the medical field. The 2027 program will include talks, keynotes, conferences, workshops and in‑depth sessions, with details to be published soon on the MIDO website.
Beyond the exhibition: My Fair Plus
For 2027, MIDO is expanding the visitor experience through My Fair Plus – Beyond the Exhibition, a digital platform promoted by Fondazione Fiera Milano. Visitors and exhibitors will be able to book cultural activities, exhibitions, performances and food‑and‑wine experiences throughout Milano, extending the event beyond the halls of Fiera Milano Rho.
International travel initiatives
Special travel arrangements have been organized for visitors and exhibitors from the United States, Canada and Latin America, with additional support this year for attendees traveling from Wenzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai.
With registration now open, organizers note that new content, initiatives and events will be announced in the months leading up to February.
A mobile optometry clinic is now set up outside the FYidoctors location in Weyburn after water damage temporarily halted services at the clinic.
Emily Albu, Mobile Clinic Practice Coach with FYidoctors, said the clinic was heavily impacted by a large rainfall event a couple of weeks ago.
FYidoctors has brought its mobile optometry clinic to Weyburn for at least four weeks while its damaged location undergoes reconstruction (Discover Weyburn.)
“There was obviously a huge dump of rain that happened a couple weeks ago and so the clinic was heavily impacted by that,” Albu said.
The water damage meant all eye-care services at the location had to temporarily stop.
With FYidoctors having access to a mobile optometry clinic, the company decided to bring it to Weyburn so customers could continue receiving eye care.
“We figured we’d bring it out and make sure that everyone in Weyburn is still getting the eye care that they need,” Albu said.
Mobile clinic to remain in Weyburn
Customers can continue booking regular eye exams through the temporary clinic. Albu recommends emailing FYidoctors to arrange an appointment rather than walking in.
“If you’re wanting an eye exam, I would definitely recommend sending them an email to book the appointments,” she said.
Customers can also stop by for services such as light adjustments.
The mobile clinic is normally based in Alberta, where it travels to provide optometry services. For the time being, it will remain parked outside the Weyburn location rather than travelling around the community.
“The mobile clinic is going to be parked at the Weyburn location for the duration of their reconstruction,” Albu said.
FYidoctors anticipates the mobile clinic will remain in Weyburn for at least four weeks while reconstruction takes place.
Albu said the company is happy to be able to provide the temporary service to the community.
EssilorLuxottica introduces Nuance Audio Plus, the next generation of its FDA‑cleared open‑ear hearing glasses designed for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. The new model builds on the original Nuance Audio Glasses — named a TIME Best Invention — with improved amplification, clearer speech‑in‑noise performance, extended battery life, and hands‑free phone call capability, a first for the category.
Hearing loss affects an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide, including 1.25 billion living with mild to moderate hearing loss, yet nearly 90% have not adopted a hearing solution. Nuance Audio Plus aims to address this gap by embedding hearing support into eyewear that remains virtually indistinguishable from conventional glasses.
Designed for everyday communication
Nuance Audio Plus is intended for people noticing early listening challenges or seeking a discreet alternative to traditional hearing aids. The glasses use directional microphones and beamforming technology to enhance speech clarity, while open‑ear speakers keep the ears free for comfort. Battery life reaches approximately 10 hours under average conditions.
The new generation also introduces on‑frame controls — including a power switch and volume buttons — and supports hands‑free calling when paired with a compatible iPhone.
Styles and availability
Nuance Audio Plus expands the eyewear offering with three frame styles (Square, Panthos, Upturn) and five colours (Shiny Black, Shiny Burgundy, Deep Blue, Amber, Olive Green). Prescription lenses and Transitions® options are available.
The glasses are available in the United States through authorized optical and hearing‑care professionals, starting at $829 USD, with online availability varying by country.
As an optometrist, I had the privilege of working with First Nations in Saskatchewan, delivering eye care services. During that time, I travelled to Indigenous reserves and remote communities, including Gordon’s Reserve, which is home to one of the last Canadian residential schools.
Those experiences formed my understanding of what vision truly requires. It is not only about diagnosing eye health conditions, determining refractive errors, and prescribing glasses, but equally about access, trust, and empathy.
Access is the Issue
One of the most consistent realities I observed was that willingness to seek eye health care was not the issue; access was. Many parents wanted their children to receive vision care but faced long travel distances, limited transportation, weather, and economic restraints.
In many communities, bringing optometric services directly to patients was the only effective way to ensure children received comprehensive eye examinations. Adjustable scheduling, reminder systems, assistance with insurance navigation, and collaboration with Indigenous health workers can reduce barriers to such care. I found that strong partnerships with schools, community leaders, and health representatives further supported continuity of care and reduced the risk of patients being lost to follow-up.
Among the many children I examined, significant uncorrected vision problems were identified, particularly refractive errors, often accompanied by high astigmatism and myopia. Many of these children had never worn glasses or had access to a comprehensive eye health exam. With appropriate spectacle correction and visual intervention, the positive change in a child’s demeanour was often immediate, with improved vision, greater confidence, and more engaged classroom participation and learning.
It is widely believed that 80% of learning occurs through vision, a key element of education. When a child cannot see clearly, tasks such as reading, writing, and board work become unnecessarily difficult. A child who has not been seen differently becomes frustrated and feels they are not smart enough, which may result in “labelling” and limited personal expectations.
Our Role as Eye Care Practitioners
As eye care practitioners, it is critical that we help eliminate visual barriers that may impede a child’s development. Proper visual intervention, addressed early, is one of the most effective supports for a child’s sustained academic success and potential. In many provinces, the Eye See I Learn program helps educate parents and teachers about early eye health exams. In some provinces, such as Alberta, barriers to accessing spectacles are eliminated by giving a free pair of glasses through the Eye See, I Learn program for kindergarten students.
Today, barriers to accessing effective eye health care persist. Geographic isolation, transportation challenges, cost of eyewear, and inconsistent follow-up care all remain major obstacles for many Indigenous patients. Further, the tragic legacy left by residential schools has influenced a wavering, uncertain trust among Indigenous patients with respect to medical systems. As a result, culturally safe care and understanding are essential in every patient encounter.
Cultural safety requires humility, respect, and consistency, which are necessary to build trust in every situation and visit. To develop trust, eye care practitioners must hear the patient’s concern without prejudice, while clearly explaining diagnoses and treatment options. When necessary and appropriate, families may need to be involved, so always ask the patient for permission.
Industry Collaboration Helps Close the Gap
On a very favourable note, there is encouraging progress within the Canadian optical industry. Today, Canadian eyewear companies such as AYA Optical, an Indigenous Canadian spectacle frame manufacturer in British Columbia, are remodeling the industry by combining selectively designed frames with authentic Indigenous artwork, incorporating clinical eyewear needs, cultural narration, and Canadian design innovation in a meaningful way.
Closing the gap in Indigenous vision care will require commitment from all stakeholders in the healthcare system. Every examination, every conversation, and every act of cultural respect contribute to significant change. The most important lesson I have learned from years of optometric practice since 1978 is that eye care is about people first.
When patients feel respected, understood, and supported, better clinical outcomes occur. It is important for eye care practitioners to remember that better vision unseals doors—but trust is what allows people to access them.
About the Author :
Dr. Diana M. Monea, OD, FAAO, MHRM
Dr. Diana M. Monea is an award-winning optometrist, author, and keynote speaker with more than four decades of leadership in clinical practice, business ownership, and professional education. Founder and former CEO of Eye Health Centres, she now focuses on consulting, mentorship, patient care, and public speaking.
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Seneca Polytechnic and CooperVision Canada have opened a new Contact Lens Centre of Excellence, expanding hands on learning and strengthening links between education, industry and patient care.
CooperVision has opened The Vision Centre in Southampton and announced six major product advancements, strengthening its innovation pipeline for the next era of eye care.
New research shows that children wearing DOT myopia control lenses behave and see naturally across everyday activities, with visual quality and satisfaction comparable to standard lenses.
The Contact Lens Institute has released Profitability Perspectives, a new report showing significant profitability advantages for contact lens patients based on first ever U.S. data.
MIDO 2027 has opened visitor registration for its February 6–8 edition at Fiera Milano Rho, featuring new exhibitors, expanded programming and a strong international focus.
Seneca Polytechnic and CooperVision Canada have opened a new Contact Lens Centre of Excellence, expanding hands on learning and strengthening links between education, industry and patient care.
CooperVision has opened The Vision Centre in Southampton and announced six major product advancements, strengthening its innovation pipeline for the next era of eye care.
New research shows that children wearing DOT myopia control lenses behave and see naturally across everyday activities, with visual quality and satisfaction comparable to standard lenses.
The Contact Lens Institute has released Profitability Perspectives, a new report showing significant profitability advantages for contact lens patients based on first ever U.S. data.
MIDO 2027 has opened visitor registration for its February 6–8 edition at Fiera Milano Rho, featuring new exhibitors, expanded programming and a strong international focus.
Seneca Polytechnic and CooperVision Canada have opened a new Contact Lens Centre of Excellence, expanding hands on learning and strengthening links between education, industry and patient care.
CooperVision has opened The Vision Centre in Southampton and announced six major product advancements, strengthening its innovation pipeline for the next era of eye care.
New research shows that children wearing DOT myopia control lenses behave and see naturally across everyday activities, with visual quality and satisfaction comparable to standard lenses.
The Contact Lens Institute has released Profitability Perspectives, a new report showing significant profitability advantages for contact lens patients based on first ever U.S. data.
MIDO 2027 has opened visitor registration for its February 6–8 edition at Fiera Milano Rho, featuring new exhibitors, expanded programming and a strong international focus.
Seneca Polytechnic and CooperVision Canada have opened a new Contact Lens Centre of Excellence, expanding hands on learning and strengthening links between education, industry and patient care.
CooperVision has opened The Vision Centre in Southampton and announced six major product advancements, strengthening its innovation pipeline for the next era of eye care.
New research shows that children wearing DOT myopia control lenses behave and see naturally across everyday activities, with visual quality and satisfaction comparable to standard lenses.
The Contact Lens Institute has released Profitability Perspectives, a new report showing significant profitability advantages for contact lens patients based on first ever U.S. data.
MIDO 2027 has opened visitor registration for its February 6–8 edition at Fiera Milano Rho, featuring new exhibitors, expanded programming and a strong international focus.
