More than 600 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions are expected at the Hong Kong International Optical Fair 2026, where smart glasses, eye-care technology, fashion-forward frames and products for older consumers will take centre stage.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, the 34th edition will run from November 4–6, 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
International buyers can find visitor information through ChinaExpoHub’s Hong Kong International Optical Fair 2026 event page.
Under the theme “Bright Eyes · New Horizons,” the trade-only exhibition will cover prescription eyewear, frames, lenses, smart glasses, sports eyewear, specialist products, eye-care equipment and supporting manufacturing technologies.
Smart glasses move closer to mainstream sourcing
Artificial intelligence and connected eyewear will be among the fair’s most closely watched areas.
The products announced by exhibitors include functions such as:
- AI voice assistance
- Real-time translation
- Photography and video recording
- Navigation
- Open-ear audio
- Health and posture monitoring
- Augmented-reality displays
- Integration with mobile applications
Market statistics for smart glasses require careful interpretation because research companies use different definitions for audio glasses, AI-enabled eyewear and products with integrated displays.
According to IDC’s smart-glasses market analysis, approximately 2.25 million smart glasses were shipped globally during the first quarter of 2026, representing year-on-year growth of 167%. IDC separately records display-equipped glasses within its wider augmented- and virtual-reality category.
Reuters, citing Omdia, reported that shipments of AI-enabled glasses reached approximately 8.4 million units in 2025, compared with around 2.1 million in 2024. These figures indicate rapid growth, but the difference between market estimates also shows why buyers should examine how each product category is defined.
Among the products selected for presentation by HKTDC is the INMO Air3, which combines an augmented-reality display with voice-assistant, recording and navigation functions. Shenzhen-based GetD Technology is presenting its lightweight GSPRO glasses with translation, open-ear audio and health-monitoring features.
These specifications are based on information supplied by exhibitors. Buyers should test core functions independently, including translation accuracy, battery life, display visibility, audio quality, heat generation, application compatibility and performance without a continuous internet connection.
Privacy and compliance become sourcing considerations
Camera-equipped glasses create compliance questions that conventional eyewear buyers may not previously have needed to consider.
Smart glasses capable of recording people in public or professional environments have attracted increasing regulatory attention. Reuters reported that European regulators and consumer organisations are examining issues including discreet recording, the visibility of recording indicators, livestreaming and the treatment of bystanders.
Importers evaluating smart eyewear should therefore assess:
- Whether recording indicators are clearly visible
- How photographs, audio and location information are stored
- Whether personal data is transferred to external cloud services
- Which markets and languages the associated application supports
- Whether functions can be disabled for workplaces or restricted locations
- How long the supplier will provide security and software updates
- Whether the product complies with local wireless, privacy and consumer-protection requirements
A technically capable product may still face commercial difficulties if buyers, employers or regulators consider its recording features too intrusive.
Silver economy expands demand for adaptive eye care
Products for older consumers form another major theme at the fair.
The announced exhibits include progressive lenses, smart reading glasses, assistive audio products and devices intended to make daily eye care easier. This reflects demand for eyewear that combines vision correction with practical functions rather than treating frames and lenses solely as fashion products.
Shenzhen Muedo Technology is expected to present electronically adjustable reading glasses that can alter focal power according to the user’s needs. Divel Italia will display digitally surfaced progressive lenses designed to improve stability and reduce peripheral distortion.
Buyers should treat automated focus adjustment and AI-assisted vision features as medical or optical functions requiring careful evaluation. Relevant questions include:
- What prescription range does the product support?
- How is the user’s vision measured or entered?
- Can the product be fitted or adjusted by an optometrist?
- What happens if its battery or electronic components fail?
- Has it undergone optical-performance and electrical-safety testing?
- How accurately does it perform across different lighting conditions?
- What warranty and repair services are available?
Distributors should also determine whether a product is classified as ordinary consumer electronics, optical equipment or a regulated medical device in the destination market.
More than 200 brands enter the Brand Name Gallery
The Brand Name Gallery will bring together approximately 200 eyewear brands, according to the HKTDC event announcement.
The wider exhibition is expected to include suppliers and industry groups from Hong Kong SAR, China; the Chinese mainland; Taiwan, China; Korea; Japan; ASEAN markets; Europe; and the United States.
The Visionaries of Style zone will concentrate on independent and designer brands, while regional pavilions will help buyers compare manufacturing clusters, design capabilities and export experience.
Daegu Health College from Korea will participate for the first time with a group of local eyewear companies. The Fukui Optical Association will also represent Japan’s established eyewear-manufacturing sector.
Retailers and distributors evaluating unfamiliar brands should compare more than frame appearance. Important commercial factors include minimum order quantities, regional exclusivity, replacement-part availability, packaging options, private-labelling terms and protection for registered designs.
Sports eyewear combines protection and performance
Sports and specialist eyewear will address demand from consumers participating in activities such as cycling, running, tennis, padel, pickleball and outdoor recreation.
Products highlighted by the organiser include photochromic eyewear that changes tint according to ultraviolet exposure. Such lenses can allow users to move between indoor and outdoor environments without changing glasses.
Buyers should request documentation covering:
- UV protection
- Impact resistance
- Lens-transmission categories
- Optical clarity
- Scratch and chemical resistance
- Frame durability
- Applicable sports or personal-protection standards
Photochromic performance should also be tested under realistic temperature and lighting conditions, as activation speed and darkness can vary between environments.
Children’s eye care enters the connected-device market
The fair will also include smart eyewear intended to monitor children’s viewing habits.
One announced product uses sensors to track viewing distance and posture, alerting the wearer when close-up work or positioning may increase eye strain. These devices may appeal to parents, schools and eye-care providers, but their health-related claims require evidence.
Buyers should ask suppliers what research supports the alerts, how the recommended thresholds were selected and whether children’s personal data is collected. Comfort, durability, battery safety and the ability to fit prescription lenses will also be important.
Monitoring technology should support appropriate professional eye care rather than being presented as a replacement for eye examinations.
Optometric symposium connects products with clinical practice
The 24th Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium will take place on November 5 under the theme “Primary Eye Care in Action: Elevating Clinical Scope and Community Impact.”
According to the official symposium overview, planned subjects include paediatric eye care, digital eye strain, driving-vision assessment, dry-eye management, inherited retinal diseases and cooperation between optometrists and ophthalmologists.
The clinical programme gives optical retailers and technology suppliers an opportunity to examine how products relate to actual eye-care requirements. This is especially relevant when exhibitors make claims involving vision improvement, eye protection or health monitoring.
The 26th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition will hold its award presentation on the opening day. Its “Mix & Match” theme explores eyewear as part of personal style, while a new Technology Concept Award encourages students to combine design with technical functionality.
Online matching extends beyond the physical fair
The fair will use HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ hybrid model to connect its physical exhibition with online supplier discovery.
The Click2Match business-matching platform will operate from October 28 to November 13, extending beyond the three exhibition days. Visitors can also use Scan2Match through the HKTDC Marketplace App to save exhibitors, access product information and submit enquiries after scanning QR codes at booths.
Buyers should begin arranging priority meetings before arriving. A practical sourcing plan should include:
- Target product categories and price ranges
- Required certifications and destination markets
- Minimum and forecast order quantities
- Private-label or custom-design requirements
- Supplier meetings and relevant seminar sessions
- Time for product comparison and sample inspection
- A documented follow-up and supplier-verification process
The physical fair will be open from 9:30am to 6:30pm on November 4–5 and from 9:30am to 5pm on November 6. Admission is limited to trade visitors aged 18 or above. HKTDC states that advance registration is free, while onsite registration costs HK$100.
The Hong Kong International Optical Fair 2026 arrives as eyewear increasingly combines fashion, vision care and connected technology. For international buyers, the strongest opportunities may come from products that solve a clear user need while meeting practical requirements for comfort, privacy, certification, software support and reliable production.
