The ophthalmic profession’s leading tradeshow, International Vision Expo & Conference West concluded on September 19 following four days of exclusive education, exhibits and events serving to showcase and catapult the advances of eyecare visionaries and industry leaders.

As the show wrapped its 27th year, Vision Expo West lauded the achievements of the eyecare community with the announcement of its forthcoming campaign for 2016, which will spotlight familiar and rising Visionaries and leverage advertising, video, and social media platforms to share unique stories and create a digital experience for year-round engagement.

“The International Vision Expo community comprises the most innovative and driven eyecare professionals and industry leaders in the world,” said Tom Loughran, industry vice president, Reed Exhibitions. “In embracing the achievements of this community, Vision Expo plays a key role in inspiring others and nurturing new ideas. Everyone has a unique story and unique contributions to make. Visionaries is about telling those stories and creating new opportunities for change and progress.”Â

From following a day in the life of a buyer, to exploring the challenges and opportunities of opening a new practice, the campaign will highlight the stories, experiences and expertise of eyecare visionaries through a series of video interviews and print advertisements.

A hallmark of the campaign, VisionariesCommunity.com, also launched at Vision Expo West as a new social sharing, networking and information hub developed exclusively for the growing Vision Expo community. The online portal encourages the creation, sharing and commenting of valuable content that addresses top-of-mind subject matters and supports professional and business development.

Over the course of four days, Vision Expo West was home to more than 350 hours of education and 520 exhibiting companies. Much of the activity in the classroom and on the show floor was live-streamed via Periscope. The experience will be extended online after the show through video interviews with attendees and program speakers posted to YouTube and VisionariesCommunity.com.

The following content will be made digitally available:

Audio recordings of “Power Hour” with Dr. Gary Gerber
Speaker interviews with Mile Brujic, Mark Schaeffer, Jeffry Gerson, David Geffen, Stuart Richer, Doug Devries, Nate Lighthizer, Jerome Sherman, Blair Loonsberry, Jack Schaeffer, Derek Cunningham, and Ben Gaddie hosted daily on EyeTube.
2016 videos highlighting the stories of 13 Visionaries including attendees, speakers and exhibitors
A Day in the Life videos following two attendees in their personal journey at Vision Expo
Education sessions including: Optic Nerve and Imaging; State of the Eye Care Industry Address; How Important are the Measurements You Take?; and Creating and Delivering a Memorable Patient Experience
Broadcasts from Periscope including the an exhibit hall tour, behind the scenes Visionaries photoshoot, the future in focus, Tony Hawk on the Power Hour by Dr. Gary Gerber, exhibitor interviews with Lafont Eyewear, Santinelli International and Younger Optics, Vision Monday Eye2 update and multiple events including Bad Habits Eye Docs of Rock Back on the Strip, edCFDA Speaking of Design panel, Job Link speed dating event and hiring seminar, ODs on Facebook, The Party at Vision Expo and The Vision Council Optical Lab Division Hall of Fame.