The 34th Hong Kong International Optical Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association (HKOMA), will be held from 4 to 6 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme "Bright Eyes · New Horizons", the fair will bring together more than 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, featuring a wide range of products and solutions covering smart eyewear, eye care, sports and specialist eyewear, frames, lenses and more, providing buyers with a comprehensive one-stop sourcing platform.
The fair's importance is underscored by the eyewear industry's shift into a new era driven by technological innovation, sustainability and changing lifestyles. HKTDC Associate Executive Director Smilely Lam noted that AI-powered smart glasses recorded global shipments of 8.7 million units last year, a year-on-year increase of 322%, highlighting the sector's strong growth momentum. According to IDC, global smart glasses shipments reached 3.566 million units in the first quarter of 2026, up 130.1% year-on-year, while Omdia reported that global AI eyewear shipments reached 8.7 million units in 2025, representing annual growth of 322%. These figures signal the transition of smart eyewear from a niche category to mainstream adoption, creating significant opportunities for retailers, distributors and technology providers.
Global brands will unveil the next wave of eyewear innovation. Exhibitors from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, and across Asia, Europe and the United States will participate, including industry associations and enterprises from various regions. Making its debut, Daegu Health College of Korea will bring a number of local eyewear companies. The spotlighted "Brand Name Gallery" will showcase some 200 renowned brands. Pre-registered buyers from leading retailers and distributors worldwide, including Capitol Optical (Singapore), Eyespace Eyewear (UK), Grand Optik (Indonesia) and others, demonstrate the event's strong international sourcing appeal.
The fair will spotlight five major trends: smart technology, the silver economy, fashion and design, active lifestyles, and sustainability. Smart eyewear products equipped with augmented reality, AI voice assistants, real-time translation, 4K recording and navigation functions will be featured. Growing demand from the silver economy is fuelling interest in vision care products such as progressive lenses, smart reading glasses and bone-conduction audio glasses. Industry forums will cover topics including smart eyewear and performance eyewear, and the 24th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium will take place on 5 November under the theme "Primary Eye Care in Action: Elevating Clinical Scope and Community Impact". The 26th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition will hold its award presentation ceremony on the opening day.
For industry professionals, the fair offers a platform to explore emerging market opportunities and foster cross-industry collaboration. The EXHIBITION+ hybrid model integrates online and offline elements, with the Click2Match platform available until 13 November. Buyer registration and event details are available at https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkopticalfair/en and https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkopticalfair/en/programme. The 24th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium details can be found at https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkopticalfair/en/the-24th-hong-kong-international-optometric-symposium. The HKTDC's Media Room is at http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en. The fair reinforces Hong Kong's position as an international business hub and regional sourcing centre, providing a comprehensive view of the future of eyewear.
