Returning to London’s Excel Centre this week (1-3 March), the organisers of 100% Optical have shared their top recommendations for visitors coming along to the 11th edition of the must-attend event for the optical industry.

Visitors can look forward to an insightful education programme, in partnership with the Association of Optometrist (AOP), the latest in optical fashion, design and cutting-edge equipment and technology, the return of 100% Ophthalmology, a co-located event which is the first in the world to bring together optometry and ophthalmology under one roof, plus a host of exciting happy hour networking opportunities.

Here are the highlights not to be missed across the three-day show:
David Beckham at the Central Bar – This year, Safilo will launch Eyewear by David Beckham at 100% Optical. Visitors can explore the latest collection and shopping experience in the exclusive Eyewear by David Beckham Lounge, as well as an unforgettable opening night party with sponsored drinks as Beckham takes over the Central Bar!

Paddington takes over the eyewear industry- Coral Eyewear has partnered with Studiocanal Kids & Family to introduce a collection of glasses and sunglasses featuring the beloved bear and will be launching the collection with a sneaky appearance by one of the most iconic characters in the world on Sunday 2 March.

100% Studio (sponsored by Nikon Lenswear UK) – a bigger, bolder and enhanced dedicated area featuring new brands, 12 new stands, an exciting line of up independently handcrafted eyewear, with a promise of a sleek and high-end luxury buying experience. The area is committed to championing the industry’s leading independent eyewear brands that honour craftmanship, creativity and innovation.

Networking in abundance – Nikon Lenswear UK is set to provide four happy hour sessions at 100% Studio on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd March with a live DJ setting the scene for networking. New for this year, The Optical Women’s Association (OWA) is hosting ‘Sparkles & Sips’, another fantastic opportunity to network between 4 and 5pm on 1st March at the Catwalk.

100% Ophthalmology and 100% Optical under one roof – during the three-day exhibition, ophthalmology specialists will come together and work collaboratively with optometrists, dispensing opticians and the wider optical industry.

Focus on the future – entering a new decade, visitors and exhibitors can expect some distinct updates and new features from a contemporary brand refresh, new-look website and tagline, a bigger and bolder Central Bar, as well as a reimagined floor plan to further hero the 100% Studio and independent brands.

Live catwalk shows – check out the latest in fashion and design during the show’s popular catwalk performances up to three times per day.

World-class education programme – another year of thought-provoking seminars, discussion workshops, peer reviews and lectures by some of the industry’s top leading names. In collaboration with the AOP, the event’s long standing partner, 100% Optical will be offering 100 hours of CPD sessions and 1-3 points across all sessions.

International appeal – of the 250 exhibitors and 5,000 brands heading to the UK’s largest optical event- hundreds of new brand names feature on the exhibitor list including a host of international brands such as Bellinger, VAVA, LumiThera, POLAR, Reichert/Ametek, MYKITA and more.

Love Eyewear Awards – Following another year of record-breaking entries, the winners will be announced on the Catwalk at 5pm on Saturday 1st March. A panel of industry experts and optical enthusiasts came together ahead of the highly-anticipated awards ceremony to carefully shortlist the entries.

Selin Pera, Senior Marketing Executive, at CloserStill Media, said: “On behalf of the entire organising team, we are thrilled to welcome everyone back to the UK’s largest optical event, and are proud to be celebrating yet another milestone this year. There is so much to see and do this year, and after a record-breaking 10th anniversary in 2024, we are excited to focus on the future of optics and welcome new generations into the world of optometry.

This year’s show is set to be more dynamic than ever. We’ve been eager to unveil our fresh new look and feel including a reimagined floor plan to make sure that we deliver a more vibrant and engaging experience taking on board all visitor and exhibitor feedback from the past decade.

For our friends observing Ramadan, we will be providing Iftar vouchers which can be requested from [email protected] and picked up from the Organisers’ Office. You can choose from the food stall options available using this voucher, all for free! We have built a prayer facility on the show floor and there are many prayer rooms available in the Excel boulevard. We want to ensure everyone can attend this celebration of our industry”.

There’s still time to register for free. For more information about 100% Optical 2025 and to register for the show visit, https://100percentoptical.reg.buzz/cab-op