Hong Kong Optical Fair opens with AI eyewear and senior vision care
The 34th Hong Kong International Optical Fair opens in Wan Chai on November 4, with over 600 exhibitors showcasing AI glasses, senior vision care and sustainable frames.
- The 34th Hong Kong International Optical Fair has opened, featuring over 600 exhibitors with a focus on smart technology and products for the "silver economy".
- AI-powered eyewear is a major attraction, with smart glasses on display that offer features like voice-assisted note-taking, real-time translation, and emergency alerts.
- Products catering to senior vision care are prominent, including advanced progressive lenses, hearing-assistance glasses, and autofocus reading glasses.
The 34th Hong Kong International Optical Fair opened on Wednesday (November 4) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, bringing together more than 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions as smart glasses, vision care for older consumers and sustainable design take centre stage.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association (HKOMA), the three-day event runs until November 6 under the theme “Bright Eyes • New Horizons”.
Clement Woo, Under Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, officiated at the opening ceremony.
Market shifts and international sourcing
Patrick Yeung, a council member of the HKTDC, highlighted the effects of shifting consumer preferences, changing supply chains and new technologies on the eyewear market.
“At the same time, sustainability, innovation, the rise of the silver economy and increased health awareness are emerging as key growth drivers for the optical industry,” Yeung told the opening ceremony.
HKTDC Acting Executive Director Smilely Lam emphasised the fair’s role in connecting suppliers with international buyers.
“The Hong Kong International Optical Fair serves as a dynamic marketplace where buyers can discover new opportunities, connect with trusted suppliers and gain valuable insights into emerging market trends.”
The HKTDC has arranged buying missions from 34 countries and regions, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, France, the United Kingdom and Brazil, to encourage trade cooperation and the exchange of market information.
Products for an ageing population
Three labels — “Smart Ageing Products”, “Smart Eyewear” and “Green Solutions” — help visitors identify exhibits responding to changing consumer needs. Products designed for the silver economy include progressive lenses, hearing-assistance glasses and automatically adjusting reading glasses.
Italian exhibitor Divel Italia is displaying progressive lenses designed to improve distance-vision stability and reduce peripheral image distortion.
Hong Kong’s Best Power (HK) Enterprises is showing bone-conduction hearing glasses with replaceable reading lenses, while Shenzhen Muedo Technology is introducing autofocus glasses for people with presbyopia, equipped with voice and button controls for calls and music.
Smart glasses move beyond vision correction
AI-enabled eyewear is another major attraction. Hong Kong-based Lawaken Technology’s AI Memory Glasses incorporate a detachable 10-gram magnetic camera for hands-free photography and voice recording. The system can use artificial intelligence to organise conversations and prepare meeting notes or document drafts.
Sichuan Yingmu Technology is presenting its INMO Air3 glasses, combining a micro-OLED display with navigation, 4K video recording and a ChatGPT-powered voice assistant.
Shenzhen GetD Technology’s GSPRO range offers functions including fall detection, emergency alerts, neck-health monitoring and real-time translation in more than 145 languages, according to the exhibitor.
Design meets sustainability
Alongside technological advances, the Brand Name Gallery features about 200 international labels and designer collections, while the Visionaries of Style area highlights eyewear that combines fashion with new technology.
Korea’s Daegu Health College is participating for the first time, bringing local eyewear companies to the event.
Sustainable design is represented by Siberian brand Brevno, which uses wood, recycled plastics and acetate in its frames, and Greatland Enterprise, which turns recycled fishing nets into materials for eyewear.
The Green Booth Design Competition also encourages exhibitors to minimise the environmental impact of their displays.
Clinical expertise and trade connections
On November 5, the 24th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium will bring together seven specialists from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Under the theme “Primary Eye Care in Action: Elevating Clinical Scope and Community Impact”, discussions will cover children’s primary eye care, dry eye management and genetic testing for inherited retinal diseases. Hospital Authority Chairman Henry Fan will officiate.
The fair also showcases winning and shortlisted designs from the 26th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition, themed “Mix & Match”, at BNG Rendezvous in the Grand Hall. The competition’s award ceremony was held on the opening day.
For buyers unable to complete their business at the venue, the HKTDC’s Click2Match online platform remains available until November 13.
The Scan2Match feature in the HKTDC Marketplace App lets visitors save exhibitor details, browse products and continue business enquiries after the physical fair ends.
