In its 39th year, Vision Expo East ditched its longtime roots in New York City for Orlando, Fla., where thousands of eyecare and eyewear professionals descended on the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) from Feb. 19-22. Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, which produces the show alongside RX, told TSNN that the move south “reflected consistent feedback from the industry and key stakeholders” after the 2024 iteration of the show saw an uptick in Florida-based professionals and attendees from Latin America and Puerto Rico. 

“Our inaugural Orlando event showed tremendous success with overwhelming representation from first-time attendees,” Mills added, noting that The Vision Council’s decision to trade the concrete jungle for more “pleasant weather" paid off. Hosting the event at the 7 million-square-foot OCCC also meant that Vision Expo East 2025 had a much larger footprint than its previous years, when it filled up Javits Center’s 3.3 million square feet.  

Though it wasn’t immediately clear just how much attendance has grown year-over-year (Vision Expo doesn’t audit its attendance numbers), more than 400 exhibiting companies participated in the event. The figure was on par with years past, though more than doubling the show floor space meant that booths were larger and more innovative than ever. “This move allowed us to deliver enhanced experiences, build a more dynamic show floor, and plan exciting new programming,” Mills said, driving the point home.  

Here were the show elements that made their debut at Vision Expo East 2025: 

Main Stage 

For the first time in nearly four decades, Vision Expo East built out a main stage to host daily panel discussions and on-stage interviews.  

“A variety of optical experts took to the Vision Expo Main Stage to discuss industry hot topics like AI implementation, sustainability, business, and manufacturing efficiency,” Mills said, adding that the stage also played host to two fashion shows over the course of the four-day event: the NOW Trend Showcase and Flaunt the Frame showcase. 

The “centerpiece” of the live programming though, according to Mills, was a keynote from tennis superstar Venus Williams, who spent her 45 minutes on stage with seasoned sports broadcaster Kelly Tilghman recounting her inspiring career both on and off the court as a successful entrepreneur. 

Resource Center 

New this year, the Resource Center served as "a central hub for activations, experiences, knowledge, [and] career potential,” Mills explained. Aside from accessing basic show information here, industry organizations like The Vision Council and United Opticians Association were in attendance to assist in networking and to foster conversations about industry trends and insights. 

Noteworthy touchpoints at the Resource Center, according to Mills, included a frame/color match analysis sponsored by Saflio, an Italian eyewear manufacturer, as well as free daily headshots for attendees to build their personal portfolio. 

Launch Pad 

Within the all-new Resource Center was a space dubbed the Launch Pad that was designed “to highlight the newest tech launches on the market,” occupied by eight companies presenting their latest optical innovations, Mills said. 

OTC Showcase 

Short for Over-The-Counter Showcase, this so-called "feature zone” was also located within the Resource Center and highlighted direct-to-consumer brands. 

The Indie Lab Speakeasy 

At previous Vision Expo East events, independent labs were merely an attendee group, but at the Orlando event, they received their own dedicated space designed to inspire connections with ECPs (including optometrists, ophthalmologists, and opticians) to share information about their respective labs and research, educate the broader industry, and conduct meetings. 

Platinum Club 

Hosted buyers, members of the media, and social media influencers were invited to Vision Expo East’s Platinum Club this year. The upgraded VIP area—which Mills referred to as an “oasis”—lent itself to conducting small meetings and interviews, plus offered complimentary amenities fit for a VIP. 

Enhanced Networking Areas 

Attendees had the chance to enjoy networking in five dedicated zones throughout the show floor—three of which were new to Vision Expo East. 

The inaugural Pearle Vision Zone, for instance, came to life as an interactive space complete with a food truck and arcade games, while the fittingly named, brand-new Conferee Café was a French-inspired lounge equipped with a barista. Speaking of international influences, at the Zeiss German Beer Garden, branded stein, complimentary German beer, pretzels, and popcorn were on offer to encourage serendipitous conversations. 

Networking abounded at other events throughout the conference too, including the Opening Night Party & Music Festival, which was reimagined this year thanks to the conference’s new location. With a newfound ability to spread its wings across a fresh destination, the Expo did just that, hosting its Opening Night Party at multiple venues within the Pointe Orlando shopping district.  

“We created a new environment that brought together industry professionals in a vibrant setting with live music, including the industry celebrities ‘The Eye Docs of Rock,’ as well as a country band and DJ,” Mills explained. 

It was “Vision Expo 2.0—a new age of the show,” according to optometrist and longtime Vision Expo attendee Dr. Sophia Visanji. 

Eyewear and eyecare professionals can expect Vision Expo East 2026 to return to the Sunshine State. It will take place March 11-14, 2026, at the OCCC. In the meantime, Vision Expo West 2025 is slated for Sept. 17-20 at The Venetian in Las Vegas. 

Photos courtesy of Anthony Less and Vision Expo

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