“It was our most dynamic and engaging show yet”

Of the attendees, 32% were from independent practice, 17% from a multiple practice, and 8% were from boutique practices. Another 9% were from private healthcare or hospital settings. 

Celsa Vazquez, commercial director at CloserStill Media, commented: “This year’s 100% Optical was a huge success, thanks to the incredible energy and effort from both exhibitors and delegates.”

The exhibition

Vazquez told OT: “Our 250 exhibitors went above and beyond with stunning, interactive stands showcasing the latest in eyewear, equipment, and innovation – driving engagement across all three days.”

The 100% Studio area of the show, celebrating frame design, featured a new design and a vibrant mix of independent brands. 

Vazquez noted that many international brands joined the show, sharing: “This is a huge win for 100% Optical, bring the first to bring these brands into UK practices.”

Elsewhere in the exhibition, companies showcased the latest in technology and products to support practices in meeting patient needs. 

Contact lens companies outlined their ranges and support for practices, with Alcon’s stand featuring a gigantic inflatable eye inside of which delegates could watch a short video about the possibilities contact lenses provide. 

In the field of dry eye, BiB Ophthalmic Instruments demonstrated the Thermaeye Plus IPL, which features a wide range of filters and a water-cooling system. 
EssilorLuxottica, meanwhile, demonstrated an ultra-widefield imaging device, the Cellview WRI-1, providing a wide look into the periphery of the retina.

The education programme, made up of more than 100 sessions, covered a wide variety of topics relevant to clinical practice, supporting practitioners to enhance their skills and knowledge. 

Glaucoma – detection methods and treatment pathways – was a common topic in the programme.

Moemen Elnawawy, CHEC ophthalmic surgeon, gave a lecture on the prevalence of glaucoma around the world. Speaking to OT after the lecture, he emphasised his key message: “Because glaucoma is so prevalent, and lots of people who are near to us have it, I need all optometrists to know what to do. What are the trends? What is coming in the future?”

Glaucoma UK and Specsavers highlighted the pressures facing glaucoma services in the UK and the need for a collaborative approach.

Giles Edmonds, clinical service director at Specsavers, and Paul Morris, director of professional advancement for the multiple, were joined on the Main Stage by consultant ophthalmic surgeon Nishani Amerasinghe, past president of the UK and Éire Glaucoma Society. 

Amerasinghe outlined the opportunity that minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) poses as a “new gold standard” for care, while Morris called for the profession to push for the changes they wish to see, suggesting: “It’s about having the right skills, it’s about having the right facilities, it’s about having the right equipment – but it’s also about having the right conversations.”

Artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential uses in healthcare continued to be a key topic in 2025.

Optometrist Kishan Devraj, an honorary clinical research fellow at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and Dr Byki Huntjens, AOP education lead, discussed the current and future practical applications of AI in primary care.

The pair presented different applications that already draw on machine learning algorithms and AI technology, from creating a ‘digital twin’ of the eye, to medical scribe applications. 

Huntjens emphasised that AI is only as good as the information it is trained on, and that clinicians could consider the technology to be a partner in decision making.

Compliance, record keeping, and professional affairs were also on the agenda.

Optometrist Christopher Bagot covered the benefits of good record keeping, sharing: “The journey through the practice doesn’t start when they sit in the chair, but in their first contact with the practice.”

A team of experts from the AOP outlined common clinical issues seen in clinical negligence cases, with Dr Peter Hampson, clinical and policy director, emphasising the importance of taking due care with the information gathered through history and symptoms. 

Reflecting on 100% Optical, 2025, Vazquez told OT: “The creativity and buzz on the show floor created a real sense of community, with many opticians returning for a second or even third day. It was our most dynamic and engaging show yet.”

Re-live the action

Laurence Derbyshire, OT video production editor, selects his top five interviews from the show.

Show review

From artificial intelligence to Zest: a whistlestop tour around the exhibition, diving into all things on show at 100% Optical 2025.

OT

Integrating hearing technology - Nuance Audio 

It’s rare for a new thing to come along, and this could well be a glimpse into the start of a new category of eyewear, where hearing aids and vision correction meet.

OT

Heart Eye gives an AI heart health assessment by looking at the retina

Robots may one day come for us all, but at least this AI seems to be very helpful and could well be the start of new patient management opportunities.

OT

Waterhaul on transparency in the supply chain with their new traceability system

Colourful frames and a good story are not quite enough for Waterhaul: it is trying to prove a gold standard for how we should be sourcing sustainably.

OT

Photobiomodulation therapy for managing dry AMD 

IPL seems like a new kid on the block. But its integration into practices has been swift, and now with this new modality it looks like we might be able to help patients with dry AMD.

Find all these interviews and much more on OT’s page dedicated to 100% Optical coverage.