OPTA
8.-10.4. 2022

The 23rd of the International Fair for Eye Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology OPTA reflected advantageous economic situation in the field. The fair moved to a more modern fair of Hall V. The new Hall is so spacious and airy that the companies put it to good use and expand their stands. In comparison to the previous year, the exhibition stands occupied area larger by ca 400 m² (increase by 12%). Optimism on the Czech and Slovak market of eye optics was also apparent in the visitors' interest and their willingness to purchase. During the first two days, the fair welcomed five thousand visitors - registered professionals in the field of eye optics, optometry and ophthalmology. According to the preliminary estimate, the total visitor rate amounts to 5,700 people. 

There were 161 exhibitors and representative companies taking part in OPTA 2017 and the rate of foreign participants amounted to 58%. As the market analysis shows, almost all suppliers of eye optics merchandise from the Czech Republic and Slovakia were represented at the fair. The exhibits showedinnovations by 258 brands, mainly contemporary collections of eye glass frames and sunglasses, correction lenses, contact lenses, optical and ophthalmological machinery and related merchandise. The fair co-organizer is the Association of Czech Opticians and Optometrists (SCOO) and the Czech Contactology Society.

Both exhibitors and visitors showed great interest in the professional supporting programme held at the OPTA FORUM in Hall V. An innovation in the form of two presentations of the latest trends in eye glass frames and sunglasses by the Dutch designer and trend specialist Ellen Haeser proved to be very attractive.  The lecture on EET in eye optics also had a great visitor rate; other interesting topics include for example 3D printing and its use eye glass frames production or the past and present of contact lenses.

For the 12th time, the competition for best exhibits of the fair TOP OPTA was held in which the evaluation committee selected exhibits out of 14 products. One of the five competition categories was the highlighted fair theme "Spectacles and Sun" in which the award went to the company ESSILOR-OPTIKA for their mirror self-colouring eye glass lenses Flash to Mirror. In the category Technology in Eye Optics, the company Rodenstock ČR won with their compact machine DNEye® Scanner, that combines seven measurement function in one device. In the category of eye glass and contact lenses, the award went to the company Johnson& Johnson for their multifocal lenses 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST MULTIFOCAL. In the category of eye glass frames and sunglasses, the evaluation committee awarded the company SAFILO for their product JIMMY CHOO JADE/S that combines sunglasses with earrings. In the category of Special Optics, the winner was the collection of children's eye glass frames NANO Glow the temples of which glow in the dark and increase visibility and safety. The product was exhibited by the company COLOR-OPTIK.

The project Design & Trend - exhibition of sample display window arrangements for eye optics stores - took place for the third time. It included companies ESSILOR-OPTIKA, SNOW HOW, PharmaSwiss ČR, NEW LINE OPTICS, Catherine Life, FEBA and SAGITTA Brno. The interest in this project was enormous and other six companies had to be turned down for capacity reasons. 

The traditional Saturday night OPTA PARTY the SONO music centre was magnificent, with a rich programme and high participation of representatives of the exhibiting companies and their business partners.

They said about the fair

Jiří Mikulecký, representing the company SAFILO for the Czech Republic:
OPTA is important to us as an exhibition with its own history. We can present our new collections for spring and summer here with quality and show new trends. I evaluate this year's fair as very positive, because it met our expectations fully. Both atmosphere and space of the new exhibition hall were nice and I think that our stand with fashion shows made OPTA more diverse. And OPTA PARTY was a real hoot.

Ivan Vymyslický, optician, optometrist, forensic expert in the field: 
The larger hall fits the OPTA fair very well. Some stands extended, some companies came back, and the exhibition stands show the exhibitors spared no expense. All that shows that the companies believe in a brighter future.

Pavel Moravec, President of the Optical Union of Slovakia:
I enjoy coming back to the Brno fair every year. OPTA is very important for the optical public as the only place where professionals are able to get acquainted with innovations for the Czech and Slovak market together. That is why the Optical Union of Slovakia is a partner to this fair and I think it will continue to be for a long time.

Pavel Halabica, Sales Director at the company Mr. Gain:
The fair was great and we enjoyed it. On Saturday, the visitor rate at our stand was extremely high so we are very pleased with the business results as well as with the fact we were able to meet our customers here. The new Hall V was a very interesting change.

Nora Šebíková, associate in the company Sover:
We are very happy with this year's fair; it might be the best OPTA in last ten years for us. People responded very well to our products and we have had a great number of business meetings. As well as every year, we also found some new customers; too bad they usually don't stick.

František Zsigmond, Sales Representative of the company Mgzoptik:
We are very happy with the OPTA fair this year; we spent very pleasant three days here. We liked it in terms of business because we found new customers. I also have nothing but praise for the Hall V; I find it more spacious and airy.

Václav Chovanec, Business Executive of the company Optiland:
The fair was great, we celebrated 20th anniversary of our company here. As far as contracts are concerned, the numbers are constant when we compare this year and last year. They haven't increased, but even though we don't have the exact calculations yet, I think that the total volume of orders has increased significantly.

Miroslav Vodráško, Key Account Manager at the company Freshlabels:
It was our second time at the OPTA fair and we liked it here very much, we had no problems. I think that lots of people came, maybe even more than we had hoped, so we are satisfied in terms of business as well. We certainly obtained more contacts than last year.

Andrea Uhraková, Marketing Specialist at Finest Group:
We liked the fair and we are pleased in terms of business as wll. We brought innovations by Italian brands with their typical signature features to OPTA and the new collections had a very successful Czech and Slovak premiere here.

The 24th International Fair for Eye Optics, Optometry and Ophthalmology OPTA will be held from 9 – 11 3. 2018. Looking forward to seeing you again!