SCENE + HEARD: Meetings Expo East Continues With Celebrations, Vibrant Trends and Dynamic Discussions By Staff Saturday, March 18, 2023 12:33 AM NEW YORK—After exploring the different neighborhoods on the Show Floor, featuring more than 425 exhibiting companies, be sure to take full advantage of the dynamic events, compelling education and inspiring programming offered at Vision Expo East 2023. Gather at The Bridge for a variety of engaging sessions including the NOW Awards: 1st Edition, which includes a panel discussion, awards ceremony and celebration with the NOW by Vision Expo Advisory Committee. The NOW Pavilion is in the Union neighborhood and features a curated selection of frames and lenses that embody the latest trends and innovations in eyewear.Vision Expo’s education program also continues today, offering custom-designed clinical content, as well as sessions ranging from the latest business strategies and optical technology to patient care and cutting-edge innovations. OptiCon @ Vision Expo returns with an unmatched opticianry education program and exhibit hall experience for opticians, contact lens professionals, allied ophthalmic professionals, optical assistants, office managers, frame buyers and lab technicians.The Career Zone-Student Lounge returns to Vision Expo East 2023 today from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Located in the Attendee Lounge, the Career Zone will serve as a central hub for students and young professionals to network with participating companies, many of which are actively recruiting and seeking new talent.The BridgeToday, Vision Expo East’s main stage destination continues to host educational panels and discussions designed to inform, empower and challenge attendees.The National Federation of Opticianry Schools (NFOS) College Bowl, powered by EssilorLuxottica, will take place today from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Modeled on a game show that features questions in anatomy and physiology of the eye, ophthalmic dispensing, ophthalmic fabrication, contact lenses and optics, The NFOS will award $500 to the first-place winner during a celebratory champagne toast at the OptiCon Hub at 1:45 p.m.The Innovation Stage will host two panels at The Bridge dedicated to groundbreaking content and state-of-the-art products and services revolutionizing the industry. The first session, Introduction to “Envision” with Forma I, Lumecca I and Morpheus8: A Revolution in Ocular Care Technology, sponsored by InMode, will take place at 11:00 am, and Using IPL and LLLT to Treat the Surrounding Conditions to Alleviate DED, sponsored by Essilor Instruments USA, will begin at 2:00 pm.The Vision Expo Keynote address, presented by blind ultra-runner Jason Romero, will begin at 3:00 pm with a meet-and-greet with the speaker, and his keynote address will immediately follow at 3:30 pm. The first 50 attendees to arrive will receive a copy of Jason Romero’s book “Running into the Dark.”Beginning at 4:30 pm, the NOW Awards: 1st Edition will kick off with an awards presentation recognizing products from exhibitors across a number of categories that embody the industry’s most vibrant “talk-of-the-show” trends. Click here to read the digital edition of the Dailies.