The eyewear industry is converging on Hong Kong this November as the 34th Hong Kong International Optical Fair opens at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 4 to 6 November. 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 arrives at a turning point for the sector. HKTDC Associate Executive Director Smilely Lam said the eyewear industry is entering a new era driven by technological innovation, sustainability and changing lifestyles. She cited market research firm Omdia data showing global AI eyewear shipments reached 8.7 million units in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 322%, while IDC reported global smart glasses shipments of 3.566 million units in the first quarter of 2026, up 130.1% year-on-year. Those figures underscore how smart eyewear is moving from a niche category to mainstream adoption.
The fair's one-stop sourcing platform covers smart eyewear, eye care, sports and specialist eyewear, frames and lenses. Exhibitors from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, Asia, Europe and the United States will attend, alongside industry associations from Danyang, Zhejiang, Yingtan, Taiwan, ASEAN, Korea and the Fukui Optical Association. Korea's Daegu Health College makes its debut, bringing local eyewear companies, while the Brand Name Gallery will showcase some 200 renowned brands.
Pre-registered buyers from leading retailers and distributors worldwide 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, Parasite Design of France, The Optical Company of Australia and Vision Plus of the US. Their presence signals strong international sourcing appeal and gives smaller suppliers a route to global distribution.
Two demand drivers stand out. Smart eyewear on display will feature augmented reality, AI voice assistants, real-time translation, 4K recording and navigation functions. Separately, the silver economy is fuelling interest in vision care, with progressive lenses, smart reading glasses, bone-conduction audio glasses and eye-care devices aimed at older consumers. Sports and performance eyewear, plus sustainability-focused products and green manufacturing technologies, will also be highlighted.
Industry professionals can track emerging trends through forums and seminars on smart eyewear, performance eyewear and testing and certification, with full event details available in the fair programme. The 24th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium on 5 November, themed "Primary Eye Care in Action: Elevating Clinical Scope and Community Impact", will feature experts from the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Australia, the UK and the US discussing paediatric eye care, digital eye strain, driving vision assessment, dry eye management and inherited retinal diseases; further information is available on the symposium page. The 26th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition will present awards on opening day under the theme "Mix & Match", with a new Technology Concept Award for students.
The fair continues the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, with the Click2Match online smart business-matching platform open until 13 November and the Scan2Match function on the HKTDC Marketplace App letting buyers bookmark suppliers and make enquiries. The HKTDC, marking its 60th anniversary, promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub through international exhibitions and conferences, and publishes market insights via research reports. For the industry, the fair is a barometer of where eyewear demand is heading; for buyers, it is a consolidated sourcing opportunity as AI, ageing populations and sustainability reshape the market.
