Opti 2025: Innovation as far as the eye can see

Design - New eyewear trends

In lectures, panel discussions and tours, eyewear trend researcher Selin Olmsted from New York will explain how materials, design and technology will determine frame trends in 2026. The basis for this is her current Eyewear Trend Report 2026, and she will also share her knowledge of the exciting world of augmented reality, virtual reality and smart glasses. New Opti Audience Award: For the first time, visitors to opti will be able to vote for their favorite frame. The version with the most votes will be honored with the "Opti Frame Star - The Audience Award". On the one hand, the audience voting will increase interaction between exhibitors and visitors, and on the other hand, it will provide a potential buyer trend with a rough indication of where the design journey will take us in 2025. New design: The Yes Area in Hall C1 with around 100 independent designer brands will once again underline Opti's strong design focus in 2025. A focus that is also reflected in the presentation of the fourth opti Box Award for the most innovative start-up in the field of frames. The chairman of the jury is the blogger and editor-in-chief of "The Optical Journal", Daniel Feldman.

Optics - The big innovation

In this area, Tomorrow Visivon in Hall C4 is a joint knowledge and presentation area for the contact lens manufacturers Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Hecht, Hetych, Menicon, MPG&E, SwissLens and Wöhlk, who have set up their individual stands around the area. The aim of the area is to give opticians an understanding of the numerous advantages of contact lenses. For example, how they can acquire new contact lens customers, how they can serve existing customers with an even better service and how they can establish and expand the lens as a very profitable business segment. All relevant providers of refraction and diagnostics, as well as lens and machine suppliers, are also located in this innovation environment in Halls C3 and C4. This area is also innovative: start-ups and newcomers with innovations relating to artificial intelligence, software solutions, refraction, diagnostics and business consulting will gather in Hall C3 under the Opti Visionary label.

Knowledge - The information heart of Opti beats in Hall C3

The biggest innovation is the bundling of four different themed hubs into one large, concentrated Opti Hub Arena. The four hubs, Opti Future Vision Hub, Opti Myopia Hub, Opti Next Generation Hub and Opti Sustainability Hub, form a knowledge marketplace with the highest possible meeting potential for all Opti visitors. The topics covered at the hubs in the form of lectures, presentations or panel discussions range from eyewear trend forecasts, myopia therapy approaches and award ceremonies to the first nationwide vocational school teachers' meeting and speed dating offers for the next generation. Another advantage of the proximity: Interested parties do not lose any precious time between the individual events.

Networking among the visitors

The traffic to and in the Opti Hub Arena encourages communication and exchange between visitors, promotes networking, synergies and new ideas and, of course, the opportunity to do business. The Opti Runway Bar is also the perfect meeting and refreshment area. It is a brand-neutral networking touchpoint for all trade fair visitors and a venue for smaller events. Visitors can also exchange ideas with each other in Hall C3 at the Opti Next Generation Hub. This is also where the Opti Next Generation tours start for precisely this generation, which is still in training and - cleverly positioned - can obtain in-depth information about possible training and further education opportunities at universities, universities of applied sciences and other institutions in the adjacent Opti Campus.

Fun and enjoyment at the Opti trade fair

Last but not least, there will also be plenty of fun and partying at the Opti. In addition to numerous stand parties, there will once again be the legendary Opti Party on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 7 p.m. - as long as there is room on the dance floor.

Cathleen Kabashi, Exhibition Director of Opti, is already enthusiastic: "The core areas of Opti have always been optics and design, a third has emerged in recent years: networking, which has made us the information hub for the industry, a networking event, the first of the year, where industry, opticians and other industry experts meet and exchange ideas and, of course, do business. So it seemed only logical to focus innovation on these areas. Some of the many outcomes: a new design award, a new hub concept and Tomorrow Vision, the new joint knowledge platform of nine leading contact lens manufacturers."

Source: www.opti.de