The eyewear industry is converging on Hong Kong this November as the 34th Hong Kong International Optical Fair opens its doors 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, the fair will gather more than 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions under the theme "Bright Eyes · New Horizons."
The event matters because it lands at an inflection point for the sector. HKTDC Associate Executive Director Smilely Lam cited market research firm Omdia in reporting that global AI eyewear shipments reached 8.7 million units in 2025, an annual increase of 322%. IDC data further showed global smart glasses shipments hit 3.566 million units in the first quarter of 2026, up 130.1% year-on-year. Those figures signal that smart eyewear is moving from a niche category into mainstream adoption, with implications for manufacturers, retailers and technology suppliers across the supply chain.
Exhibitors will present products spanning augmented reality, AI voice assistants, real-time translation, 4K recording and navigation. Among the featured items are the INMO Air3 smart glasses, which pair AI and AR with a Sony Micro OLED display and Android 14 ecosystem, and the GSPRO AI Glasses, which add health monitoring, fall detection and translation across more than 145 languages. A separate zone addresses the silver economy, with progressive lenses, smart reading glasses and bone-conduction audio glasses aimed at older consumers.
The fair's international sourcing appeal is already evident. Pre-registered buyers include Capitol Optical of Singapore, Eyespace Eyewear of the UK, Grand Optik of Indonesia, Kaundi GmbH of Austria, Optica Halperin Ltd of Israel, Optical London Drugs of Canada and The Optical Company of Australia. The Brand Name Gallery will spotlight some 200 brands, while first-time participant Daegu Health College of Korea will bring a cohort of local eyewear companies.
Beyond the show floor, a series of forums will address smart eyewear, performance eyewear and testing and certification. The 24th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium on 5 November will convene experts from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Australia, the UK and the US to discuss paediatric eye care, digital eye strain, dry eye management and inherited retinal diseases. The 26th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition will also hold its award ceremony on opening day, introducing a new Technology Concept Award for students.
For trade visitors, the fair operates under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, with the Click2Match platform running until 13 November to extend business matching beyond the physical event. Full details are available on the Hong Kong International Optical Fair website, with the event programme listing sessions and the 24th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium page providing symposium information. Announcements are also carried via the HKTDC's Media Room.
The convergence of AI, an ageing population and sustainability pressure gives the fair significance beyond a single sourcing event. For an industry navigating rapid technological change, the Hong Kong gathering offers a gauge of how quickly smart eyewear and eye-health products will reach mainstream consumers.
