This past year has been a monumental one for The Vision Council. In the past 12 months, we have reached numerous new milestones, made stunning achievements in research, and continued to serve as an ardent advocate for the optical industry.
From two memorable expos and a glamorous Solar Flair party to lifechanging scholarships, there are almost too many accomplishments to count! Keep reading for a peek at our favorite moments from this past year.
Trade Shows
Running from March 16 – 19, Vision Expo East 2023 was a smashing success. The event, which brought together ophthalmic professionals from around the globe, was the largest gathering of optical professionals in the United States in recent years. This year’s event was followed by an exciting announcement: after a fantastic run in New York City’s Javits Center, Vision Expo East will be moving to Orlando, Florida in 2025!
The West Coast’s ophthalmic community gathered in Las Vegas from September 28 – 30 for Vision Expo West 2023. In addition to four days of new product discovery, innovative discussions, accredited education sessions, networking events and business meetings, the event also featured technological breakthroughs, celebrity appearances, and dazzling product launches.
Industry Leadership & Advocacy
From January 9 – 11, The Vision Council hosted their annual member conference, the Executive Summit, in hot and sunny Austin, Texas. The event included the confirmation of new members to the Board of Directors, a keynote discussion from former Amazon executives, the release of industry-disrupting market research, and a dazzling musical performance.
Government and Regulatory Affairs
In 2023, The Vision Council’s Government and Regulatory Affairs team deepened relationships with members of Congress and the Administration to not only bring industry concerns to their attention but also develop practical and actionable steps towards solutions. Among these steps included a letter to the United States Trade Representative from the powerful House Ways and Means Committee asking specifically for eyewear products to be excused from the ongoing China 301 tariffs. Additionally, interested members had the opportunity to meet with their Congressional representatives and, in some cases, opened their doors to visits from government officials to see first-hand the effects of policies on the industry.
Market Research
Abundant inSights
In the past year, The Vision Council further cemented itself as a leading expert in the optical industry with their inSights Research Program and the release of 65 reports and supplemental materials. This comprehensive portfolio provided an expert perspective on market data, as well as consumer, provider, and special interest topics. Highlights from this year’s studies include new research on the future of smart eyewear, telehealth, myopia management, and more.
Professional Development & Community Building
This year, The Vision Council welcomed 28 new members and implemented new ways to engage divisions and members with in-person and virtual content, including the addition of an in-person and virtual Fashion Trends Presentation, a new Lab eLearning series and the enhancement of several existing programs.
In 2023, the Lab Division hosted three e-learning webinars. Each webinar covered a specific topic geared towards certain departments in the lab space, such as, Rx labs and safety protectors, OSHA inspections and hazardous waste management in optical laboratories.
Emerging Optical Leaders (EOL) Committee
The Emerging Optical Leaders (EOL) Committee, which exists to identify and develop the next generation of optical industry leaders, enhanced the development of committee members with great participation in seven in-person and virtual events including the first EOL exclusive retreat to visit Europa Eyewear outside of Chicago. The mentorship program enriched the knowledge of more than 20 emerging leaders by pairing them with exceptional leaders in the optical industry.
Consumer Outreach & Education
National Sunglasses Day’s Solar Flair Campaign and Event
In celebration of National Sunglasses Day – an annual commemorative holiday owned and hosted by The Vision Council – sun-safe eyewear was promoted via a communications campaign titled ‘Show Your Solar Flair’. The campaign, as well as an event featuring industry stakeholders in New York City, encouraged people around the world to share sunglass selfies via social media to boost awareness of the importance of protecting our eyes.
This year, The Vision Council Foundation continued to promote better vision for better lives by empowering the next generation with the Opening Your Eyes Scholarship Fund. Since its inception in 2021, the program has awarded 25 scholarships, raising a remarkable $340,000 to support students from underrepresented communities pursuing a degree in ophthalmic dispensing.
