Optometrists ready to gather in Sin City and catch up on the latest optometric education and industry offerings will have to wait until next year—or at least get on their computers. Today, Vision Expo organizers, The Vision Council and Reed Exhibitions, announced the cancellation of Vision Expo West 2020, originally planned for September 23 to 26 in Las Vegas. The show had already been combined with this year’s Vision Expo East due to the global COVID-19 pandemic that hit the US earlier this year.

Despite developing a plan along with the Venetian Resort to ensure the safety of attendees and strong interest from industry, the organizers made the decision to cancel Vision Expo as a result of Nevada remaining in the state’s Phase 2 of reopening plans through the end of July.

“Without having visibility on when the state of Nevada will be ready to roll into future phases or what the future phases will allow for, coupled with the unfortunate spiking of COVID-19 cases in the region, we know it is in the best interest of everyone in the vision community to not move forward with the Show,” said Fran Pennella, event vice president.

In the cancellation announcement, Mitch Barkley, vice president of trade shows and meetings at The Vision Council, highlighted the launch of a series of virtual offerings that will address the vision community’s desperate need to get back to business. Options, accessible via the Vision Expo website, include the Virtual Connections program that will link exhibitors with attendees, a series of virtual panels and interactive conversations called the Virtual EYE2EYE series and the soon-to-be launched Virtual Vision Series.

The Vision Expo team will be contacting pre-registered attendees and exhibitors separately in the coming days.