LAS VEGAS — During Vision Expo West 2025, around 10,000 optical industry professionals from 80 countries gathered for fruitful networking opportunities and access to the latest industry innovations — and 34% of them were new attendees.
The event, which was Sept. 17–20, is the last show before the owners, RX and The Vision Council, consolidate Vision Expo West with Vision Expo East.
In addition, 56% of the Vision Expo West 2025 attendees were key decision makers and there was a 27% increase in Platinum Club participation, which is designed for million-dollar practices and optical retailers. According to Vision Expo Event Vice President April Stackhouse, this increase was the result of the show’s intentional outreach to this group of high-value attendees.
“We layered in highly-targeted outreach — everything from in-person visits from our attendee acquisition team to email campaigns, PPC, strategic social media and PR, data-driven marketing initiatives and collaborating with our exhibiting partners on target attendee outreach,” Stackhouse explained. “It was not just about bringing more people to Las Vegas; It was about ensuring the right mix of decision-makers and innovators who could drive meaningful connections on-site.”
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The show floor was also redesigned to create designated areas for Eyewear, Eyecare, Independent Design, and Tech and Innovation — making it easier for attendees to find the products that were most relevant to their needs.
Fewer Events, Greater Impact
To make the Vision Expo brand even more impactful, West and East iterations will be combined, beginning with the first show, which is set for March 11–14, 2026, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. This consolidation was in response to feedback from exhibitors, attendees and industry partners — all of which believed that one event a year would better serve the industry.
“By unifying into a single show, we’re creating a more impactful event and conference for product discovery, education, innovation and connection. It also simplifies planning in what’s become a crowded events calendar, while aligning our timing with key buying seasons and continuing education cycles,” said Stackhouse. “Most importantly, it ensures that when the industry gathers each year, it truly feels like the place to be.”
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To help create this feeling, Vision Expo will make the experience much more immersive by investing in more technology showcases, curated activations, and impactful education and networking opportunities. Stackhouse says the expo will also be rotating locations — with the event subsequently being held in Las Vegas in 2027 and New York in 2028 — to make it easier for the whole community to come together.
“The new format also makes planning easier for companies and attendees, with a single, must-attend event strategically timed in March. And because we’re rotating through top business travel destinations, we’ll keep the experience fresh and accessible,” Stackhouse said. “Ultimately, this change allows Vision Expo to expand its impact while remaining the leading optical event in the Americas.”
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