100% Optical hits the spot

ABDO president, Jo Holmes, and vice president, Daryl Newsome, visit the Wolf Eyewear team

The chance to see, try and buy new products was one of the biggest draws of 100% Optical, which finally opened its doors last Saturday for the first time in more than two years. The number of visitors (9,680) matched those seen in January 2020 with record numbers of exhibitors rebooking for 2023, reported organiser Media 10.

As the first major UK trade show since January 2020, the three-day event was a welcome reunion of suppliers and customers eager to engage, accrue and deliver CPD points, learn and share new skills, gain and divulge business insights – and enjoy some good old-fashioned networking and socialising.

Hot topics were countless: from myopia to refraction to sustainability through to imaging advances, dry eye, assistive technology and the future of eyewear retailing. There were eyewear catwalk shows, CPD seminars, international eyewear designers; a showcase of the best in optical technology, frames, lenses, contact lenses, equipment and much more.

Nathan Garnett, event director, commented after the show: “100% Optical has been a phenomenal hit. Having postponed the event twice, it is amazing to see we have managed to match our 2020 attendance level. This is an even greater achievement when you hear that we are the first show back at ExCeL London to recover fully. We have had three days of catching up on lost time from a sector that has really missed meeting face-to-face.

Reviewing the latest eyewear designs

“What was also striking was the togetherness of the sector,” Nathan continued, “with major industry associations the AOP, ABDO and the Optical Suppliers Association all pulling together to help the professionals working in optics. This has led to lots of ideas we are already implementing for 2023. We had a record rebook as well: always a sign that a show has delivered.”

ABDO president, Jo Holmes, said: “100% Optical this year was extra special, as it was our first major face-to-face event in more than two years. Bumping into so many familiar and new faces in person was refreshing, and brought a sense of relief that we are getting back to normal.

“It was great to be on the ABDO stand, meeting members and helping with different queries, as well as chatting with prospective students on the ABDO College stand. I also managed to have a scout around the stands to see the latest eyewear trends – all so colourful and creative – which gave me renewed enthusiasm for our collections back in practice,” Jo concluded.

Reuniting with members

ABDO’s large stand offered a chance for members and non-members alike to discuss with ABDO staff any and every matter related to dispensing optics, and discover the large range of membership benefits available.

Paediatric dispensing workshop with ABDO’s new anatomical heads

A highlight of the ABDO CPD programme saw delegates gaining hands-on experience with ABDO’s new specialist paediatric heads and other resources to discuss paediatric dispensing. The discussion workshop, titled ‘Paediatric dispensing: fit for purpose’, was presented by ABDO director of professional examinations, Alicia Thompson, who helped delegates explore facial measurements, frame fitting, special characteristics, adaptations and effective communication for all children.

Also on the CPD programme was an ‘Aiding vision’ discussion workshop presented by dispensing optician Gaynor Whitehouse, clinic lead at Focus Birmingham. Delegates interacted with a range of low vision aids to discuss with their peers how they may support specific patient needs and aid vision.

Foreign body removal workshop on the ABDO stand

In a special on-stand workshop, repeated over the three days, Max Halford, ABDO clinical lead, looked at the way patients presenting with foreign bodies are managed in practice, exploring the tools and techniques available to accredited minor eye conditions services (MECS) practitioners. Max used a dummy head with model eyes, with lifelike corneas embedded with a range of foreign body materials.

Max said: “100% Optical is a great forum to engage with a wide range of our members and other optical professionals. The opportunity to demonstrate the foreign body removal techniques that we teach on the ABDO Extended Services Course was fantastic. Many people who came along didn’t realise that extended services contact lens opticians [ECLOs] are now actively delivering MECS and CUES [Covid-19 urgent eyecare services].

“It was obvious from the conversations we had that many members are keen to upskill – and OCT [optical coherence tomography] did seem to be one of the hot topics of conversation at 100%. We are very grateful for the support of Birmingham Optical in loaning us the slit lamp we used for our demonstrations,” Max added.

Representatives from ABDO College were on hand to discuss the array of courses offered to support personal and professional development for all members of the practice team, answer any questions about courses and methods of study, whether it be part-time of by distance learning. A selection of books and tools were also available along with special show offers.

Inspiring products and designs

Aided vision dispensing workshop

The show ran more than 160 seminars, workshops and debates organised by show partner the Association of Optometrists, alongside exclusive product launches, offers and competitions. It also saw the return of the Love Eyewear Awards, which champion and promote eyewear.

Amongst the winners were Kirk & Kirk whose Thor model won Men’s Frame of the Year, Millmead Optical Group for Best Marketing Campaign, Waterhaul for People’s Choice New Designer of the Year, and Feb31st for Women’s Sunglasses of the Year.

Other must-sees were Simon Murray’s collection of Hollywood blockbusters eyewear from across the decades at the Frame Us Exhibition, and the Royal College of Art RCA Eyewear Design Competition, on the theme: ‘Reflecting on the past to help us look at each other now and help us see into the future’.

Amanda Higginbotham, CCO at Birmingham Optical, commented: “After two years without a show, it’s been a great opportunity to put out new launches – a lot of people are not aware of the new technology in that period of time, and especially when it’s new tech they want to touch and feel it. It’s also good to interact with new faces. Being Midlands-based, we always see new markets in independent opticians when we come here.”

Marcolin sales director, Michelle Fazzini, likened the event to one of its European counterparts, saying: “We had queues on Saturday and Sunday waiting to come on the stand. It really feels like one of the European shows, it has such a buzz. We’ll definitely be back next year.”

Keiran Hill, our April cover star

The Dispensing Optics (DO) team was delighted to catch up with April cover star, Keiran Hill, on the Waterhaul stand. Keiran said after the show: “It was fantastic meeting and speaking with a variety of people and independent opticians, who were all really enthusiastic and supportive of what we do. It was great to see people looking to source more eco-conscious products.”

100% Optical 2023 will take place from 25-27 February.

In the June issue of DO, we’ll take a look at some of the new products launched at the show.