Report: 100% Optical

So much to SEE

Eco-conscious products, advances in diagnostics technology, assistive technology for the visually impaired, contact lens innovations and bold and beautiful eyewear were amongst the product portfolios on display at 100% Optical 2022. Being able to see so much innovation under one roof was just one of the reasons the show saw pre-pandemic levels of visitors numbers.

As the first major UK trade show since January 2020, the three-day event reunited eyecare professionals from all walks of practice – with UK and international suppliers, designers and business partners to try, buy and catch up on hot optical topics.

As immediate past president of ABDO, Jo Holmes, remarked after the show: "100% Optical provided a much welcome opportunity to see the latest innovations and eyewear trends, giving us all renewed enthusiasm for our products back in practice."

SUSTAINABILITY IN DESIGN

In the arena of sustainability, Eyespace had a whole host of eco-friendly eyewear on display – including three new Basebox Slimology models composed of recycled ocean plastic, recycled stainless steel and bio-acetate. The styles sat alongside a new Range Rover optical collection of 12 ultrapremium Japanese beta-titanium, and the latest styles from Cocoa Mint, Aspinal of London, Rock Star and more.

On the Millmead stand, visitors heard about the group's new collaboration with optical sustainability designer, Yair Neuman, to highlight the problem of lens waste. Millmead has commissioned Yair to design and build a sculpture made out of its factory’s own lens swarf and discarded demo lenses from the frames it supplies.

Visitors caught up with the team at David Green Eyewear to review the company's handcrafted, biodegradable eyewear made with fallen tree leaves that are dried, dyed and then set inside a natural, cotton-based acetate.

Cornwall-based social enterprise Waterhaul, featured on the front cover of the May issue of Dispensing Optics, made its first outing at a UK trade show to showcase its eyewear made from 100 per cent recycled fishing net plastic with polarised, mineral glass lenses. Exclusive Sennen optical frame is made from 100 per cent recycled monofilament nylon fishing nets, sourced from Cornwall.

Launched on the Coti Vision stand was Eden, part of a new reading glasses collection with frames made from Italian developed hexetate, an environmentallyfriendly patented acrylic.

Sea2See, which recently achieved carbon negative status, discussed how it has twice eliminates its carbon footprint over the

SCOTCH AND SODA EYEWEAR ON THE CATWALK

whole life cycle of its optical glasses and sunglasses. The company’s products are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, recovered from the sea, are 86 per cent less contaminating than cellulose acetate, 79 per cent less than TR90 grilamid frames and 61 per cent less than virgin nylon, according to sustainability experts Dcycle.

Independent eyewear designers were out in force – from Kirk & Kirk with its latest acrylic designs, to hand-made Austrian frames from Johann von Goisern, along with glamorous lamination designs from British brand Caron Eyewear. Feb 31st Eyewear showcased a new collaboration with Manchester United footballer Jesse Lingard –FEB Shades – part of an exclusive collection called 'Hold the vision trust the process'.

The latest iteration of Lid Vision's eyewear for motorcyclists drew visitors to its stand. Each optical frame and sunglass can be attached to the company's articulated helmet arms, elasticated straps or skull-fit sides, transforming them into sports and leisure specific eyewear. The product is now patented globally.

With an exclusive optical collection on the way, Fauna audio glasses comes complete with a case that doubles as a charger. Each integrated audio module includes a MEMS microspeaker, an electrodynamic speaker, a touchpad, associated electronics and a battery.

Additionally, two microphones are integrated into the right side. The Italian acetate frames and sunglasses can be glazed to prescription, with blue light filtering lenses of sun lenses.

Mondottica shone a spotlight on its Scotch & Soda eyewear collection – new to the UK market – on both its stand and on the catwalk. Following a successful reception in Europe, the range joins the company's established portfolio of contemporary brands including Ted Baker, Hackett Bespoke and Joules.

YAIR NEWMAN FRAMES MADE FROM DUMMY LENSES

TOOLS AND TECHNOLOGIES

There were demonstrations of the latest equipment and technologies from suppliers including Heidelberg Engineering, Topcon,

JO HOLMES VISITS THE DAVID GREEN STAND

Birmingham Optical, Carl Zeiss, Nikon Optical, and Style Pttrns, which showcased an in-practice artificial intelligence-driven eyewear recommender.

For the first time in the UK, EssilorLuxottica shared a joint stand to showcase frames, lenses and instruments. Essilor Instruments launched two new digital slit lamp adapters designed to perform a complete dry eye assessment and eye photography. The DSLC200 and the DEM100 can be used on any slit lamp to transform it into a comprehensive, industry recognised dry eye assessment. The DEM100 takes a complete tear film automated digital analysis with multiple

tests, while the DSLC200 slit lamp imaging system provides high quality images and videos of the eye.

Essilor Instruments also launched the Activa Home Eye Mask by SBM Sistemi, which uses heated automatic massage technology, can be rented to patients and offered as an in-practice treatment.

Also new to discuss was Essilor's Expert Myopia Care solution, composed of its Myopia Expert 700 providing precise axial length measurement accurate to 27μm, combined with corneal topography, and its digital solution Essibox Myopia Care offering a convenient workflow from myopia interview to recommendations and handover.

Visitors to the stand could view the group's proprietary eyewear brands too alongside its licensed brands and Smartshopper and Digital Media screen technologies, and its learning and development platform Leonardo.

Described as "the world's first handheld, non-contact optical pachymeter", the Occuity PM1 Pachymeter was displayed for the first time in the UK. The PM1 Pachymeter shines a low powered beam of light into the eye to capture more than 200 scans per second, and presents these measurements as averages with a standard deviation immediately on screen.

The star of the Bausch + Lomb stand

was its new Ultra One Day silicone hydrogel contact lens, which visitors had the opportunity to try. The lens features a next generation contact lens material called kalifilcon A, and the company's Advanced MoistureSeal Technology, which is said to deliver a highly wettable surface and excellent breathability for long-lasting and healthy lens wear.

FEB 31ST ECO-CONSCIOUS EYEWEAR

DISPENSING TECHNOLOGY AT THE ESSILORLUXOTTICA STAND

GAME-CHANGING INNOVATIONS

On the lenses side, Essilor's Stellest myopia control lenses and the newly launched Transitions XTRActive Polarized were showcased on the EssilorLuxottica stand alongside branded lenses Ray-Ban Authentic Prescription and Oakley Authentic Prescription.

Eschenbach Optik showed its expanded range of lenses, which now includes filter lenses developed for use in cases of photophobia. The new Acunis lenses with UV protection for use when driving are available as plano lenses in a range of fashionable frames, as clip-on lenses, as XL spectacles for putting over an existing pair, or in individual optical powers for any frame.

Oxford-based lens technology business Adlens demonstrated its new Taskmaster lens technology for presbyopic patients. Described by the company as "gamechanging", Taskmaster represents an alternative to traditional varifocals, occupational eyewear or wearing multiple pairs of glasses. It combines Dual-Lens Alvarez PowerShift Technology and a premium progressive design to allow the wearer to switch between three different focal zones, giving a wider field of view and better focus at every distance.

In collaboration with Sight and Sound Technology (SST), Visionbridge continues to widen access to appropriate assistive technology for the visually impaired. On the SST stand and during CPD sessions, demonstrations were available for Oxsight Onyx. Designed for those with central vision loss, the Onyx is said to deliver an improved ability to read and identify text, recognise faces, watch screens and TV and enhance independence across a range of daily tasks.

The Body Doctor launched the Eye Doctor Premium Eye Health Food Supplement: a one-a-day vegan supplement with no fillers, binders or additives, which contains the macular antioxidants, lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin. TV's Dr Hilary Jones was on the Eye Doctor stand to 'meet and greet' with visitors.

With so much on display at the show, it would be impossible to cover every product and innovation. For a further general round-up of ABDO and ABDO College's activities, and other elements of the event, visit DO Online.

LID VISION EYEWEAR SOLUTION FOR MOTORCYCLISTS