opti 2025 in Munich once again delivered a powerful statement for the global ophthalmic optics industry over three dynamic days. Under the banner #weareopti, the trade show reaffirmed its role as a premier platform for innovation, dialogue, and future-focused technologies.
With an impressive showcase of emerging trends and groundbreaking solutions, opti demonstrated the industry’s unwavering enthusiasm and solidified its reputation as a must-attend event for professionals worldwide.
“Best opti ever,” “absolutely essential,” “record-breaking sales,” “a resounding success,” and “GHM delivered on its promise“—these were just some of the enthusiastic responses from exhibitors at opti 2025. On the visitor side, the numbers spoke volumes: 21,105 trade professionals attended, with over 70% holding decision-making authority, underscoring the event’s outstanding success.
The vibrant, positive atmosphere that permeated all three days of opti 2025 was the result of close collaboration between the opti team, exhibitors, and industry leaders, fueled by fresh ideas and initiatives developed over the past year. Exhibitor satisfaction reached impressive heights: over 97% rated visitor quality as good to very good, citing strong interest in their products. Additionally, nearly 89% of exhibitors reported excellent to good success in initiating new business relationships. It’s no surprise, then, that more than 90% have already confirmed their participation for opti 2026.
With 330 exhibitors from 23 countries, including 190 from Germany, opti 2025 showcased the full spectrum of the optical industry’s value chain. From frame manufacturers and suppliers of contact and spectacle lenses to leading brands and cutting-edge independent designers, the event also featured consulting firms, IT providers, equipment and lens manufacturers, shopfitting companies, and hearing acoustics specialists.
“opti remains on course for success! After opti 2024, we went one better and it paid off. Combining our information HUBs in the opti HUB ARENA and the joint platform for contact lens manufacturers, TOMORROW VISION, met with a very good response from visitors and exhibitors alike. And confirmed to us that both the concept and opti as an annual kick-off are a success. The latter is based on the close cooperation with our stakeholders and the strong community – it is the sense of community that makes opti what it is!”
Highlights as far as the eye could see
The biggest innovation and thus the highlight of the trade show was clearly TOMORROW VISION, the joint contact lens platform of the nine renowned manufacturers: Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Hecht, Hetych, Menicon, MPG&E, SwissLens, and Wöhlk. Under the slogan “Contact lenses are the future of ophthalmic optics,” visitors experienced a comprehensive programme with a maximum focus on the advantages of lenses and their great sales potential in the 170 m² joint area.
Another opti highlight was the opti HUB ARENA, in which four info HUBs were concentrated for the first time, in addition to the established opti SUSTAINABILITY HUB and the opti MYOPIA HUB, as well as the opti FUTURE VISION HUB featuring current trends in ophthalmic optics, including the frames segment of the trade show.
Among other things, the presentations and discussions on the Eyewear Trends 2026 by New York trend expert and founder Selin Olmsted were very popular. The trend tours she led were fully booked at the beginning of January. No wonder: the earlier the trends are known in the industry and can be used for ordering, the better the chances of being fit for the future.
Right next door: the opti NEXT GENERATION HUB, with which opti, in close cooperation with representatives of the VDCO Young, supported the young talent in the industry. Speed dating formats such as NextGen Meet-up were on offer here, where youngsters from the optical industry could exchange experiences, for example on further and advanced training opportunities or the Meet & Match format—young talent meets companies.
“I am simply overwhelmed! The atmosphere was impressive and the enthusiasm of the industry was clearly noticeable. The visitors enjoyed the trade show to the full. I was particularly pleased that contact lenses were shown from a different perspective and really shone in the spotlight with TOMORROW VISION and many expert presentations. It is creative ideas like these that will definitely make opti a permanent fixture for the markets in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and beyond, and further establish it as an important source of inspiration for product range strategies and annual planning.”
Awards and opti PARTY
The opti FRAME STAR – The Audience Award was presented for the first time, where opti visitors voted for their favourite frame among 50 frames using a QR code. Congratulations to the winner, Munic Eyewear from Munich.
The 5th opti BOX AWARD was won by the Berlin start-up Manti Manti for its children’s eyewear design, as announced by the international jury headed by Daniel Feldman from
The Optical Journal. Congratulations! The opti PARTY on Friday had already established itself as a must-attend event this year. Here, all trade show participants celebrated the first successful day with cool beats and drinks.
Make a note now: the next opti will take place in Munich from 16 January to 18 January 2026.
About Opti
opti is the international trade show for optics & design which takes place annually as the industry kick-off in January in Munich. It offers trade visitors the complete spectrum of ophthalmic products, from spectacle frames and lenses, contact lenses, refraction, diagnosis and low vision to shopfitting and technical equipment. opti is the order platform and the location for product premières by international market leaders and start-ups alike. The event was first held in 1998, and since 2008 has been organised by GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH.
Every year at opti, experts and creatives in the optics industry display their newest products. As an international trade show for optics and design, opti represents the whole visual-optical spectrum, from frames to lenses, contact lenses, low vision, shop fittings, IT, marketing and sales, i7nstruments, tools, spectacle elements, accessories as well as technical equipment and professional education.
What can you expect at opti 2024? The product areas range from lenses and frames to diagnostics. As the first order fair of the year, all trends and innovations from the field of ophthalmic optics will be presented as well as product premieres from international market leaders and start-ups alike.
Read more about this show on TEF Magazine or register for free at their website.
More news on Opti
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