Interesting to know how Vision Expo East 2017, closing this afternoon did this year.

[Chris Ryser]

Interested to know how Vision Expo East 2017, closing this afternoon did this year.

From attendance, to special products, and to "Optical Politics", as the Essilor-Luxottica merger, shown at the show.

[Opticianjw]

It was very busy downstairs. Saturday was the busiest day but the attendance at this show was good.

[MakeOptics]

I've never seen it this busy and I have attended every year for the past 10+ years. Lot's of technology and vendors were working with each other and new vendors all over. Lot's of peeks behind the curtains to see technology. I saw frames being made on the spot that people got to wear right out of the frame vendors booth, no lenses of course but it was the best expo I've attended to date.

[Pete Hanlin]

From a vendor perspective, Friday was busy (for a Friday), Saturday was hopping, Sunday was slow (which again is somewhat usual).

From a personal perspective, I miss the days when lens manufacturers weren't relegated "to the basement." Of the two Expos, I prefer the layout of West (and the fact that we can walk directly from our hotel to the show without going outside :^).

Most interested thing I saw at this show were some of the early attempts at 3D lens printing. The early days of digital surfacing were "cut to polish" (wow, we could eliminate fining), I believe 3D printing will get us to "cut to coat" (eventually).

[jefe]

From a vendor perspective, Friday was busy (for a Friday), Saturday was hopping, Sunday was slow (which again is somewhat usual).

From a personal perspective, I miss the days when lens manufacturers weren't relegated "to the basement." Of the two Expos, I prefer the layout of West (and the fact that we can walk directly from our hotel to the show without going outside :^).

Most interested thing I saw at this show were some of the early attempts at 3D lens printing. The early days of digital surfacing were "cut to polish" (wow, we could eliminate fining), I believe 3D printing will get us to "cut to coat" (eventually).

I saw the booth for the Belgian 3D lens printing company. I didn't think it was possible to print a lens smooth enough to use. The company representative showed me examples of the lenses they make -- mostly lenses which would be very difficult for a wholesale lab to make (e.g.: lots o' prism). Wow.

[mervinek]

I saw the booth for the Belgian 3D lens printing company. I didn't think it was possible to print a lens smooth enough to use. The company representative showed me examples of the lenses they make -- mostly lenses which would be very difficult for a wholesale lab to make (e.g.: lots o' prism). Wow.

My understanding on 3D printed material is that it isn't smooth. Texture is gritty. Is this correct?

[jefe]

My understanding on 3D printed material is that it isn't smooth. Texture is gritty. Is this correct?

In this case it is not correct -- very smooth.

[mervinek]

Wow! Any idea how the price would be for someone ordering lenses? Did they say that it would be a lot more than a traditional lens? What about materials? (darn! I should have gone to the show to see it!)

[jefe]

Wow! Any idea how the price would be for someone ordering lenses? Did they say that it would be a lot more than a traditional lens? What about materials? (darn! I should have gone to the show to see it!)

They only sell to wholesale labs right now, so we didn't talk prices. The material is a 1.53, 40-something abbe value non-trivex material.

[lensmanmd]

I saw the booth for the Belgian 3D lens printing company. I didn't think it was possible to print a lens smooth enough to use. The company representative showed me examples of the lenses they make -- mostly lenses which would be very difficult for a wholesale lab to make (e.g.: lots o' prism). Wow.

I am sorry to have missed this. My weekend at VEE was so busy, and even though it was on my calendar, I never got the chance to view the 3D lens printing. I wish now that I squeezed a few moments.

Anyway, back to the VEE crowds. Maybe it was just my experience, or maybe VEE was better managed this year. I saw that there were crowds, but I felt that last year was more hectic. i remember waiting at Schneider, Santinelli and Topcon for quite some time to speak with a rep. I did set appointments ahead of time this year, but still met with several other vendors with minimal wait times. It was a very productive weekend for me this year, as compared to last year.

And now, back to my craft Gin...