With an ever-expanding roster of all-star speakers, exhibitors and designers, a ticket to this year’s International Vision Expo East, March 14 to 17, could be your backstage all-access pass to experience the latest in trends, technology and education that the eye world has to offer.
In addition to the exhibits and education, Vision Expo East hosts dozens of social events, such as last year’s Eyes on New York Gala.
Last year, Vision Expo East 2012 broke its own longstanding record for attendance (first set in 1986 at the event’s inception). In the last four years, the number of Vision Expo East exhibitors and attendees filing into the Jacob Javits Center has expanded by more than 25%.
With more than 350 hours of top-notch continuing education classes, 120 hours of social networking events and 5,000-plus brands sprawled out over more than 250,000 square feet of newly renovated, modern exhibit hall space in heart of New York City, Vision Expo East has quickly become the one-stop destination for up-to-the-minute information and products on everything eye care and eyewear related.
Best Ticket in Town
Brush up your knowledge of the latest treatment guidelines and techniques. ODs, opticians, eye care professionals, optometric technicians and staff have a wide range of educational options designed to help expand their expertise and sharpen their skills. Choose from a diverse list of more than 200 continuing education classes that are conveniently divided into five categories: clinical, contact lens, allied health, optical technology and business solutions.
These categories offer a wide range of topics such as Clinical Dermatology for the Optometrist, Developing Your Specialty Contact Lens Practice, The Importance of Photography and Other Diagnostic Studies, 12 Point Primer on Polarized Lenses, The Art of Effective Conversation, and much more.
Other courses offered can help your practice stay on top of compliance, incentive and government regulations such as PQRS, EHR, e-prescribing and coding.
Forward-thinking practice management classes incorporate fresh business solutions and strategies, including the all-new Chief eXperience Officer (CXO) program, a four-hour course empowering personnel in your office with the tools they need to give extraordinary, personalized customer care.
Hobnobbing with Other ECPs
VEE provides a great opportunity to meet and speak with ODs, opticians, eye care professionals and industry insiders from all over the nation, and all over the world. Vision Expo East offers more than 120 hours of social gatherings, parties and networking events.
For instance, there’s two big events
to choose from on Friday night: The Eyes on New York Gala, hosted by SUNY College of Optometry, or a performance by The Bad Habits (“The Eye Docs of Rock”) at Famous Dave’s in Times Square.
Check out the latest fashions and brands in eyewear and products from all over the world.
TV’s Carson Kressley has been the emcee of the Vision Expo Fashion Show for two years running.
In the exhibit hall, hundreds of exhibitors show off the latest in cutting-edge diagnostic technology and ophthalmic equipment.
Plan your schedule and check the Vision Expo website for more information and a list of these and other networking and social events.
Behind the Velvet Rope
One more reason to come to Vision Expo East: You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the newest eyewear styles and fashions, as well as a chance to see first-hand demonstrations of cutting-edge medical equipment and products.
You can also preview the newest advancements in lens and processing technologies.
The exhibit hall can be a bit overwhelming, particularly if you are only planning to be at the Expo for one day or have limited time to see everything in between CE classes.
So, plan ahead. The VEE website (
www.visionexpoeast.com) has a My Show Planner application that features an interactive floor plan and map to help you stay organized, keep track of which exhibitors you want to be sure to visit and of appointments you’ve made.
Or do it all from your mobile device.
The Vision Expo Mobile app, available at
www.visionexpoeast.com/Vision-Mobile, allows you “to find exhibitors and new products quickly navigate the show floor via interactive maps, see show specials, view the full education schedule, download course handouts, contact exhibitors for appointments and get the latest show news and alerts,” according to International Vision Expo.
Also, you can follow Vision Expo on Twitter @VisionExpo, Facebook at
www.facebook.com/visionexpo and on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/user/IntlVisionExpo.
Can’t plan a trip to NYC this March, but you still want behind-the-scenes, live updates from Vision Expo East? Don’t fret. I’ll be on the scene to Tweet and share pics from Vision Expo East on @revoptom to bring you more insider info, footage and fun!
