OPTA
8.-10.4. 2022

The 22^nd International Fair of Eye Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology was again a feast of the sector. It confirmed the growth of the Czech and Slovak markets and optimism among shoppers. Compared with last year, number of exhibiting companies and the extent of exhibition space slightly increased, but more importantly, the number visitors - registered professionals from the field of optics also went up. After Saturday it is clear that the number of visitors exceeded last year. The preliminary estimate is 5700 people.

OPTA 2016 filled Hall B up to the last place. The occupied exhibition area showcased presentations of 157 exhibitors, including represented companies (approximately 5% more than last year), 21 countries were represented. The analysis of the market shows that the fair included almost all suppliers of optical goods in the Czech Republic. Opticians became acquainted with new collections of spectacle frames and sunglasses that one could not see anywhere else in such an extent, and with the current offer of correction and contact lenses, technology and optical and ophthalmic instruments. The fair was co-organized by the Association of Czech Opticians and Optometrists, professional partners included the Optical Union of Slovakia and the Czech Contactology Society.

The TOP OPTA and Professional TOP OPTA competitions were held for the eleventh time and the evaluation committee chose thirteen nominated products. The highlighted the theme "We Control the World Through Our Eyes" was of course accentuated in this competition and this category was won by the ZEISS DriveSafe lenses by Carl Zeiss spol s.r.o. In the Technology in Optics category, just two exhibits were awarded – Nautilus, an innovative tool for demonstrating the effects of spectacle lenses exhibited by ESSILOR - OPTIKA, spol. s.r.o. and Briot Attitude grinding device exhibited by OMEGA OPTIX. The last award was won by Rodenstock R8010 spectacle frames from Rodenstock CR s r. o., in the spectacle frames and sunglasses category. The Professional TOP OPTA Award which is decided by the votes of trade visitors was won by a tailor-made manager system specializing in the management of one or more Optosystém opticians branches by Brelis.

After last year's successful premiere, a competition for the best arrangement Design & Trend was held again this year. Six showcases with exhibitors’ products were located around the OPTA FORUM - Carl Zeiss AG. s r. o., ESSILOR - Optics, spol s. r. o., Johnson & Johnson, s. r. o., Omega Optix, s. r. o., SAGITTA Ltd., spol s r. o. and Wixi s. r. o., which were very originally set up. This year, visitors were most intrigued by the showcase arranged by students from the Brno – Charbulova vocational school, which featured installations of Salvatore Ferragamo luxury spectacle frames from SAGITTA.

Another attraction of the fair was the magnificent OPTA party on Saturday, which took place in the SONO Centrum music club and was attended by more than 900 representatives of exhibiting companies and their clients.

There was of course also the supporting programme at the OPTA FORUM with more than twenty lectures on interesting topics.

The 23^rd International Fair of Eye Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology will be held on 10 to 12 March 2017. We look forward to seeing you again!

Quotes about the fair

Libor Pivoňka, Product Manager, Rodenstock ČR:
According to the results, this year's Opta has again been a pleasant surprise. I do not want to say in advance that it will be a record for us from a business standpoint, but I think we are heading that way. It has been a great fair and I can confirm that the Czech market is doing very well.

Jaroslav Majerčík, Managing Director, SAGITTA:
From our perspective, this year's OPTA was very successful. We always try to prepare for our customers the best we can, we have been inviting them in the long term, which then has its effect. For us, OPTA is as interesting as it is interesting for our customers, and it has been the case this year. We have a very good impression of the fair, many visitors came in on Friday and Saturday and we are really satisfied.

Roman Motyka, CEO, ESSILOR – OPTIKA:
I see Opta as beneficial in several ways and a company like Essilor have in a way an obligation to participate in it, and so we support it as much as we can. We always strive to bring some new "top" product which is attractive from a technical standpoint, this time it was the Nautilus, which has won a prize. This year's OPTA was successful and again progressed a bit further; the number of visitors at our stand was unbelievable. It is a sort of an informal meeting point which visitors enjoy and they love to come here. We are very happy here.

Vlastislav Troják, Division Director, Carl Zeiss:
We can imagine a bigger attendance, but on the other hand, it shows that the interest in quality optical goods is growing, which is good for us, of course. We had visits from new customers interested in our technology, which was very positive for us.

Petr Andrys, owner, Mr.Gain:
Everything went well this year. The weather was good, customers have come in large numbers on Friday, there was a beautiful party on Saturday. For us, OPTA had all the positives and we are also satisfied from a business perspective. We would not change anything major in the future and we will keep participating too.

Marek Hlavenka, Sales Director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Safilo:
This was our third OPTA and I think it was a good one. Attendance was on standard and we are definitely satisfied on the business side. We participated in the party for the second time; it was really cool and in great style. It's been an integral part of Opta, expected not only by exhibitors, but mainly by visitors. Responses have been great and I know that some people have come to Brno for the party. I think the whole concept of the Opta Party including the venue is now well set for the future and it would be a risk to change it. The question is how to further enliven and enrich the fair itself.

Jiří Kaiser, Managing Director, Metzler International:
I am as satisfied with this exhibition as last year. We do not yet know our business results, but it feels just as good as a year ago. The party was very nice, I think OPTA has found something here. The time of balls is gone by and this is the right way.

Petr Mairich, sales and marketing coordinator for the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Johnson & Johnson:
This year was excellent both in terms of organization and in terms of filling the fair. I am glad that OPTA remains a highlight of the business year in our industry, and we will participate in the next years. We are absolutely satisfied here, also on the business side.

Alice Tobolková, Managing Director, Aglaja:
On Friday, there were fewer visitors than last year, but then on Saturday we got too many customers, they almost could not fit in the stand. Commercially, we are satisfied this year, we liked the party and the entire organization of the fair. People are now more interested in colourful things and less well-known brands, which I see as a positive trend.

Radoslav Kudlej, Managing Director, Brelis:
We have exhibited here last year for the first time and it was successful, we got a significantly increased number of new customers after OPTA. That is why we have also participated in the Top Opta competition and we are very happy that we won the votes of the professional public. Regarding attendance, I was surprised by this Friday. We have expected a slower start, but we were busy from morning to night, and we got as many contacts like on Saturday last year. Saturday was of course also full and even now on Sunday we are still getting people interested in the system. Attendance at our stand was definitely higher than last year.

Luboš Nerad, Sales Manager, AMBG:
I liked this year's OPTA in terms of participation of Czech customers, on the other hand, I lacked greater representation of Slovak opticians. The fair had a very good atmosphere, lots of companies prepared very precisely for Opta and had a very nice presentation. Our customers perceive that we have been here for them for 25 years, and it has been one of the better years for us.

Jiří Panenka, President of the Association of Czech Opticians and Optometrists:
OPTA has been in existence for over twenty years, which speaks for itself. Although we work with social networks and digital transmission of data across the globe today, I feel that a personal meeting among people in the field will always be something important. OPTA does not only fulfil the primary business function, but increases its social function, because personal contact among customer and vendor is still needed. At the same time, OPTA also fulfils the informatory role, which is also used by the Association of Czech Opticians and Optometrists.

Pavel Moravec, President, Optical Union of Slovakia:
I am very glad the Optical Union of Slovakia can be present at the realization of this fair because we believe it makes sense, is commercially successful and presents the long term trends in the field.

Martin Falhar, Chairman of the Evaluation Committee of Top Opta 2016:
What is beautiful in optics, is that it is a mix of several areas – there are overlaps of health, fashion and technology. Some interesting innovations are constantly appearing. That is why I was very happy to take part in the evaluation of the innovations at OPTA, although the choice was difficult and there were really many quality exhibits.