The 34th Hong Kong International Optical Fair will be held from 4 to 6 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association. Under the theme “Bright Eyes • New Horizons”, the fair will bring together more than 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, covering smart eyewear, eye care, sports and specialist eyewear, frames and lenses.
The event matters because it arrives at an inflection point for the eyewear industry. HKTDC Associate Executive Director Smilely Lam said AI-powered smart glasses recorded global shipments of 8.7 million units last year, a year-on-year increase of 322%, underscoring strong growth momentum. She added that the fair showcases the latest products and technologies while reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international business hub and regional sourcing centre.
Exhibitors span Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, and across Asia, Europe and the United States, including the HKOMA, Danyang in Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang, Yingtan in Jiangxi Province, Taiwan, ASEAN, Korea and the Fukui Optical Association. Making its debut, Daegu Health College of Korea will bring local eyewear companies to showcase innovative products. The “Brand Name Gallery” will feature some 200 renowned brands. Pre-registered buyers from leading retailers and distributors worldwide include Capitol Optical (Singapore), Eyespace Eyewear (UK), Grand Optik (Indonesia) and Vision Plus (US).
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence and wearable technology are driving the smart eyewear sector. According to IDC, global smart glasses shipments reached 3.566 million units in the first quarter of 2026, up 130.1% year-on-year. Omdia reported that global AI eyewear shipments reached 8.7 million units in 2025, annual growth of 322%, highlighting the transition from a niche category to mainstream adoption. The fair will feature smart eyewear with augmented reality, AI voice assistants, real-time translation, 4K recording and navigation functions. Growing demand from the silver economy is also fuelling interest in vision care and eye-health products, including progressive lenses, smart reading glasses, bone-conduction audio glasses and eye-care devices for older consumers.
A series of forums and seminars will cover smart eyewear, performance eyewear, and testing and certification. The 24th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium, organised by the HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong Optometric Association and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, will take place on 5 November under the theme “Primary Eye Care in Action: Elevating Clinical Scope and Community Impact”. Experts from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States will share research and clinical experience on paediatric eye care, digital eye strain, driving vision assessment, dry eye management, inherited retinal diseases, and collaborative management between optometrists and ophthalmologists. The 26th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition will hold its award presentation ceremony on opening day, with a new Technology Concept Award for student participants.
The fair will adopt the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, with the Click2Match online smart business-matching platform running until 13 November. During the physical event, buyers can use the Scan2Match function on the HKTDC Marketplace App to scan exhibitors’ QR codes, bookmark suppliers, access product details and interactive floor plans, and make product enquiries. Event details and the full programme are available on the fair’s website and programme page, while information on the optometric symposium is also published online. The HKTDC’s Media Room provides further updates.
With five major trends in focus—smart technology, the silver economy, fashion and design, active lifestyles, and sustainability—the fair offers a glimpse into the future of an industry being reshaped by technology, demographic change and health awareness. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
