NEWS

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  Zeiss Vision Care appoints Jesper Wiegandt as new CEO

  Effective October 1, 2026, Jesper Wiegandt has been appointed CEO of Zeiss Vision Care. In this role, he assumes responsibility for the strategic and operational leadership of the business.

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  Silmo Paris 2026 – Innovation and AI shape the future of eyewear

  With more than 32,000 professionals from around the world, Silmo Paris 2026 reaffirmed its position as one of the optical industry’s most influential international trade fairs.

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  Mido registration open

  Mido opened the registration for visitors and journalists attending Mido 2027, scheduled to take place February 6–8 at Fiera Milano Rho.

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  EssilorLuxottica and Meta revealed new audio glasses and new features like “private processing” or “hearing anhancement”

  EssilorLuxottica and Meta Platforms unveiled the next generation of AI glasses at Meta Connect. Expanding their portfolio of products, the companies announced a new line of audio glasses, a third generation of Ray-Ban Meta, as well as new models, features and geographiesfor existing products.

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  Lab Leadership Forum with 200+ optical lab professionals successfully concluded

  The Vision Council recently concluded the 2026 Lab Leadership Forum. The event was held September 16–18 in Nevada, and brought together over 200 leaders across the optical laboratory sector.

FEATURED ARTICLES

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  Rethinking lens power

  Why geometry alone does not define what the wearer perceives: From surrounding media and vertex distance to tilt, gaze angle and peripheral aberration compensation – the optical effect of an ophthalmic lens is always shaped by context.

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  Putting a number on color

  Words such as “enhanced color” and “high contrast” appear on many lens products, but there is no shared way to measure what they mean. However, by using a reimagined model for evaluating color performance, a company aims to describe color performance as objectively as light transmission and UV protection are described today.

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  Using sunlight to keep eyewear clear – Part 1

  A new coating technology uses the near-infrared part of sunlight to passively heat eyewear lenses and reduce fogging. Unlike conventional solutions against fog, the new PFAS-free coating technology is protected inside the coating stack, making it durable, maintenance-free and compatible with modern lens designs.

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  Slowdown in orders?

  When orders dry up, many companies start looking for explanations. The economy is slowing down, or competition is driving down prices. That may be true, but weaker demand does not mean there are no more orders in the market. Often, the winners are those who follow up earlier, and more consistently. Now, it becomes clear whether a sales team is actively working or merely reacting to demand.

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  Beyond darkening – the future of photochromic lenses

  For more than 25 years, Maat Optical has been shaping the future of photochromic lenses. In an interview with founder and CEO Li Jun, we discuss innovation, evolving market demands, and why some exciting developments in photochromic technology may still be ahead.

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  Transitions: Breaking out of the niche

  Over the past years, Transitions Optical has undergone a significant product and brand evolution. Over the course of five years, the company produced approximately 450 prototypes and conducted more than 100,000 tests to lay a solid foundation for the next generation of Transitions lenses. Today, they come in many vibrant colors and even with dynamic polarization. This required not just a manufacturing facility, but an innovation center – which MAFO visited in Ireland.

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  Empowering labs

  Until recently, block-less free-form lens production was widely perceived as a technology reserved for innovators – an advanced but not yet universally trusted alternative to traditional alloy-based processes. However, as recently pointed out by several market players, 2026 marks a decisive turning point. Will the future of lens production be block-free?

NEWS

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  The Italian eyewear market and future

  ANFAO – the Italian Optical Goods Manufacturers’ Association – held on July 14 its General Meeting at Palazzo Flangini, to discuss shared objectives and future initiatives. Market figures were also presented and showed a decline of 6.1% compared with the first quarter of 2025. By far the sharpest decline was seen for U.S. exports.

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  Coburn Technologies announce strategic partnership with VeroCore Business Solutions for the UK and Western Europe

  Coburn Technologies announced a new strategic partnership with VeroCore Business Solutions Ltd. for the sale and distribution of its products in the United Kingdom and Western European markets.

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  EssilorLuxottica and Meta aim to reach a wider audience with a new, more affordable AI Meta glasses collection

  EssilorLuxottica and Meta announced the launch of Meta Glasses, a new collection of AI glasses aimed at opening up the smart eyewear category to broader audiences, including consumers looking for more attainable innovation.

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  Silmo establishes new show in Riyadh

  Silmo is further advancing its international expansion with the inaugural edition of Silmo Riyadh, set to take place from April 2 to 4, 2027, at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC)

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  EssilorLuxottica to start wearable production in Italy

  EssilorLuxottica will start first wearable production lines in Italy, starting from the second half of the year.

• Meta expands retail footprint with in-store labs at Best Buy

  Meta is set to expand its physical retail presence through a new partnership with Best Buy, introducing dedicated “Meta Lab” spaces within more than 50 stores across the United States and Canada.

• New section 301 tariffs loom for the optical industry

  Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s February decision limiting presidential authority under IEEPA, Section 122 duties have been in effect, but are set to expire July 24, 2026. Now, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced proposed new tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, citing forced labor concerns across more than 60…

• Stephan Schenk to head the Consumer Optics Trade Association at Spectaris

  Stephan Schenk will take over as head of the Consumer Optics Trade Association at the German industry association SPECTARIS effective July 15, 2026

• A new framework for low vision care in Ghana’s Ashanti region

  The joint “Low Vision” project between Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana has established a three-tiered care system for people with visual impairments in the Ashanti Region

• EssilorLuxottica opens new R&D center in Thailand

  EssilorLuxottica announced the opening of a new R&D center in Lat Krabang, Thailand, designed to accelerate how it develops, scales, and delivers the next generation of vision care solutions, wearables and medical technologies.

• President for Silmo d’Or announced

  For this new edition of the Silmo d’Or, Silmo Paris has entrusted the presidency of its jury to Joachim Froment, an industrial designer and creative director based in Brussels.