09 April 2026
The doors have closed on another 100% Optical. The 2026 event was held at London’s Excel between 28 February–2 March, gathering more than 11,000 attendees from across the eye care profession.
Topics in the education programme ranged from advances in glaucoma care, to artificial intelligence, wellbeing, to remediation.
On the show floor, Alcon launched its Precision 7 contact lens, the Zeiss Collaborative Care platform was revealed, Prue Leith discussed her new eyewear collaboration, and dry eye was an increasingly important topic of conversation.
The Love Eyewear Awards, held on day one of the show (28 February), recognised the best in design, innovation, and retail.
100% Optical 2026 in numbers
11,000
attendees
252
exhibitors
120
hours of CPD
Organisers: education, exhibition, and connection
Adam Sampson, chief executive of the AOP, described the show as “amazing,” and said: “Looking around you’ve got thousands of people, not just professionally working, doing business and learning, but also having fun and seeing old friends. That’s the great thing about 100% Optical. It’s both a business opportunity, an education opportunity, and a reunion.”
Dr Ian Beasley, head of education at the AOP and OT clinical editor, described the education programme as “exciting,” covering both the key topics of dry eye, presbyopia, and myopia management, as well as sessions on artificial intelligence.
“I think a programme as diverse as 100% Optical allows people to consolidate their knowledge in those core skills, and I think it’s equally important to prepare for what's coming further down the line,” he said. Beasley added: “I think it's a good opportunity to at least step slightly outside of your comfort zone and learn about what might be coming in the next few years.”
I think it's a good opportunity to at least step slightly outside of your comfort zone and learn about what might be coming in the next few years
Seeing the show come together, Katy McCormack, 100% Optical event director, said: “It’s so rewarding. The team work so hard all year for just one event, so to see it all come together – to see the carpet down, the bright colours, all the exhibitors, it’s just so special.”
Not only is 100% Optical the UK’s largest optical show, but it is the “best place” for the profession to meet, gather CPD points, and “come together as an industry,” to have fun and “see what’s out there,” McCormack said.
McCormack joined the organising team in December 2025, and shared her personal reflections on the event as “brighter than I could ever have expected.”
Exhibitors: building community and being part of the industry
Sam Wymer, co-founder of The Body Doctor, said: “For us, this is the biggest event of the year,” explaining that the company launches all of its new products at the show.
“We like to get in front of our customers, see them, and build those relationships,” he said, adding that there is “nothing quite like the buzz of a big show.”
“It’s amazing to be out in front of everyone and building this community together,” he said.
Mathilde Beau, managing director of Johnson & Johnson, Western Europe, said: “We’re very proud and happy to be at 100% Optical.”
“For us, it’s being part of the industry. Contact lenses is sometimes a smaller part, but we know we want to be fully integrated into the journey – with glasses, with sunglasses, with contact lenses. I think this event makes it happen,” she said.
Beau continued: “We are all together, we can look at how we provide solutions, eye care solutions, and eyewear solutions, for all patients. It’s very exciting to see all the innovation and activity.”
Josh Hudson, director at Hudson Eyewear, shared: “We are overwhelmed by how busy it’s been and how many good conversations we’ve had. We’ve opened lots of new accounts and we’ve been able to tell the story of the four different brands that we work with.”
It’s amazing to be out in front of everyone and building this community together
AOP Councillors: Training and myopia management research
Ankur Trivedi, specialist optometrist working in community and hospitals, and AOP Councillor and Board member, said 100% Optical was an “opportunity to get an idea of what’s going on in the sector and meet up with some people I haven’t seen in a while. A chance to absorb the buzz around the show and sector, and keep my finger on the pulse.”
A personal highlight for Trivedi was attending a ZEST training session. He explained: “I had ZEST done and tried it on someone else to get a hands-on experience with it, which was really useful.”
Josie Evans, optometrist and AOP Councillor, said: “I love 100% Optical because I think there is such a great range of speakers and exhibitors. There is always a bit of content available for what everybody’s specialist interest is.”
A highlight from the education programme for Evans was a lecture by Professor Nicola Logan Is low-concentration atropine the next step in UK myopia control?
Evans highlighted that the talk was evidence-based, sharing: “It was really nice to get a refresher on the evidence base for myopia management and atropine use.”
On the exhibition floor, she identified virtual reality headsets have been emerging in the past few years, particularly around perimetry and contrast sensitivity.
Following the OT camera crew at 100% Optical
246
GB of footage recorded
37
interviews on camera
9
hours of interview footage
Hear from Love Eyewear Award winners
Monarkh Eyewear received the new designer of the year title at the Love Eyewear Awards.
Saira Patel, founder of Monarkh Eyewear, shared: “To have Monarkh Eyewear named the winner was a moment of profound, overwhelming joy. Standing alongside such incredible talent at the Love Eyewear Awards 2026, this victory feels like a dream realised.”
“As a qualified dispensing optician, my focus has always been on the delicate balance between precision fit and edgy, statement-making artistry.”
To have that recognised by the judges, Patel said: “is a prestigious milestone that reinforces our commitment to British design and global craftsmanship. I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to the judges for seeing the vision behind Monarkh and for this incredible opportunity.”
Sandra Battistel, design director at Mondottica Group, celebrated the Love Eyewear Award for Women’s sunglasses of the year for the Christian Lacroix frame ‘CL5126’.
Battistel commented that the award win “is credit to our design capabilities, and my team’s design capabilities.”
House of Modo received the award for Sustainable frame of the year for the ‘Neos’ frame by its brand, Eco Eyewear.
The frame is part of Eco Eyewear’s Recycled Aluminium collection with a colour palette inspired by earthy tones.
Giovanni Lo Faro, CEO International for House of Modo, commented: “We are honoured – this award is testament to the passion and work of our entire team in devising a sustainable alternative that brings no trade-offs for the optician or the user, in line with our mission to design beautiful frames while reaching carbon negativity.”
The Focal Rooms, in Southport, was named Eyewear retailer of the year 2026.
Billy Brown, partner of The Focal Rooms, said of the award: "We’re absolutely delighted to have been named Eyewear retailer of the year 2026 at the Love Eyewear Awards in London. As a family-led practice, this recognition means a great deal to us.”
“We’re passionate about combining clinical excellence with carefully curated eyewear and a truly personal experience for every patient, and we’re incredibly grateful to the judges for recognising this, and to our loyal patients for their continued support,” he added.
Davies & Jones Optometrists received an award for Most engaging practice window, with Andrew Hobby, optometrist, commenting on the “big surprise and thrill” of being named winners: “especially given the quality of the displays by the other practices on the shortlist.”
He told OT: “After nearly 40 years at Davies & Jones, Treorchy, this was my last display before leaving the company. What a great way to sign off.”
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