Trends and trade fair innovations at Opti 2025
Opti, the international trade fair for optics & design at the beginning of the year, is a guarantee for innovations and trends in ophthalmic optics. Until Sunday, February 2, the ophthalmic optics industry presented new developments, products and designs for all aspects of vision.
Opti presented the latest trends and innovations: From the latest frames and materials to new developments in biometric lenses and lenses for presbyopia to the presentation of premium screening concepts.
The design trends 2026
In her outlook for 2026, New York eyewear trend researcher Selin Olmsted identified five design and material trends for frames:
Sculptural - eyewear as wearable art:
Strong profiles, bold chamfers, complex milling and rich textures such as tortoiseshell, horn and marble dominate. These frames celebrate craftsmanship and artistic design.
Sentimental - Personal accents merge into design:
Nostalgic elements, handcrafted details and playful designs create frames with emotional resonance and individuality. Imperfections are celebrated.
Punk Quotidien - The new wave of self-expression:
Inspired by the raw energy of subcultures on the fringes of society, these designs embody new standards of beauty and authenticity.
Surrealism - A new reality, unexpected and playful:
Unconventional shapes, dreamy details and a slightly whimsical nature transport eyewear into a world of imaginative expression.
Ultralight - The future of comfort and innovation:
The pursuit of ultimate lightness with materials such as titanium, 3D-printed elements and high-density acetate. These frames consist of ultra-thin profiles, transparent layers and precision engineering for a barely perceptible feel.
Upcoming material and color innovations
According to the New York trend researcher, the materials used and the type of lenses, such as their tint, also contribute to these five trends:
Acetates: This material sees Olmsted 2026 with retro-inspired tortoise, marble and horn textures as well as in multi-layered gradients in neutral, tonal or bright colors. The result: innovative contrasts with multi-layered colors and exposed core wires in temples.
Spectacle lenses: Here she defined a range from super dark, smoky or purple lenses to saturated full lenses and double and triple gradient lenses in vibrant sunset and spice tones.
Metals: Olmsted sees this classic among frame materials redefined: Two-tone finishes, such as gold on the inside and black on the outside, give bestsellers such as gold, rose gold and black a new perspective.
These trends and materials were already on show at Opti at many exhibitors, such as Raen Optics LLC, Einstoffen Europe GmbH, Andy Wolf Fashion GmbH, Kaleos Eyehunters SLU, Silhouette Deutschland, Rodenstock, Hoya and Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH.
The new Tomorrow Vision concept also put the lens in the spotlight with the theme "The contact lens is the future of ophthalmic optics".
Zentralverband der Augenoptiker und Optometristen (ZVA) - The balance sheet of the ophthalmic optics industry
"Solid development in a difficult environment" was the assessment of the optical industry for 2024 presented by Christian Müller, President of the Central Association of Opticians and Optometrists, at the start of the trade fair. A 1.8 percent increase in sales compared to the previous year testified to the solid performance of medium-sized, owner-managed opticians. "Optometry remains an industry with a future, but we must not rest on our laurels. Together, we must continue to work on solutions to ensure a nationwide supply of visual aids and increase the attractiveness of the profession," explained the ZVA President.
Opti 2026 will take place from January 16 to 18 at the trade fair grounds in Munich.
Source: www.opti.de
