More than 8000 visitors attended 100% Optical at London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre earlier this month (4–6 February), marking the events’ largest footfall since it was established four years ago.
Speaking exclusively to OT during the three-day show, 100% Optical event director, Nathan Garnett, said: “We have certainly had our busiest show to date – we have broken all of our records. Every day has been up on last year and probably most impressive is that stands have been bigger and better than ever before, with an estimated 175,000 products on display.”
Alongside a busy exhibition, the AOP hosted a comprehensive education programme from five stages situated throughout the show.
The Association’s head of education, Dr Ian Beasley, confirmed that at least 120 hours of education had taken place during the show, with more than 120 CET points available to practitioners.
Speaking about the programme, Dr Beasley said: “There has been a real mix of sessions that have been very thought-provoking, with many session providing delegates with something that is different from the norm.”
Topics explored during the education programme included myopia control, Freeform progression lenses, vision and driving and integrating new technologies into practice.
Optometrist and OT clinical editor for multimedia, Ceri Smith-Jaynes told OT: “It’s really great that the AOP has been running education at 100% Optical because it means that practitioners have everything under one roof. You have business, you have fashion, you can look at frames, and at the same time you can get your interactive points.”
“It’s just everything in one show – that is the beauty of 100% Optical,” she added.
The co-founder of Star Optical, Abbas Asaria, who was exhibiting at the show for the first time, said: “It’s amazing – the variety of content, products, education – it’s fantastic.”
Reflecting on the 2017 event, the AOP’s chief executive, Henrietta Alderman, said: “This year the show has grown into something bigger and better – it’s more dynamic, there’s more delegates and there’s more exhibitors.”
“Our partnership with 100% Optical has really made this show into the best in market,” she concluded.
100% Optical returns to London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre on 27–29 January, 2018.
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