Exhibitions & Meetings
EssilorLuxottica “Switch Monaco”
EssilorLuxottica “Switch Monaco”
Eyecare professionals at the forefront of a new era in vision care
EssilorLuxottica brought together more than 1,200 eyecare professionals (ECPs) from across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia to explore how vision care is being transformed – and why ECPs must be the ones to lead it.
The future won’t wait
At a time of rapid technological acceleration and evolving patient expectations, SWITCH highlighted the powerful shifts reshaping the industry:
- The eye is becoming a window to overall health
- Glasses are becoming an intelligent interface to life
- Care systems need a stronger frontline, closer to people
The eye: a window to the inside world, a bridge to the brain
Plenary sessions, keynotes and learning sessions emphasised a fundamental shift: a new understanding of the eye not only as a means to see, but as a powerful window into overall health – and a direct bridge to the brain. Advances in imaging and artificial intelligence are enabling earlier detection of systemic and neurological conditions, often before symptoms appear.
This positions the eye as a critical access point for proactive healthcare, transforming routine eye exams into meaningful health insight moments and expanding the impact eyecare professionals can have on patients’ lives.
This evolution is also reshaping the care model itself. With healthcare systems under increasing pressure worldwide, eyecare professionals are uniquely positioned to play an even greater role: enabling earlier detection, guiding patients through their health journey and contributing to more proactive, connected care pathways. At the same time, advancements in lenses and connected eyewear are opening new categories of usage, from performance and prevention to everyday assistance and inclusivity.
In this context, the event underlined ECP’s deep and lasting relationships with patients, offering not only products, but ongoing value through expertise, trust and personalised solutions.
“Our industry is entering a new era. Eyecare professionals are at the centre of it. They are the trusted frontline for millions of people, uniquely positioned to turn innovation into better care, stronger relationships and greater impact. With the right technology and support, they will not just adapt to change – they will lead it,” said Chrystel Barranger, President EMEA and Asia Professional Solutions for EssilorLuxottica.
An immersive 360° experience
The event also featured the “Switch Your Store” experience – an immersive journey into the future of eyewear. From the world of wearables with Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta, to advanced vision care and smart lenses such as Essilor Varilux, Crizal and Stellest, as well as hearing solutions with Nuance Audio through to advanced diagnostics and AI-powered insights, the experience offered a seamless view of innovation across the entire ecosystem. “Switch Your Store” demonstrated how tomorrow’s optical store can elevate both patient outcomes and ECPs’ business performance.
Brand happening areas articulated around smart glasses, frames, light management and accessories immersed participants into the universes of some of EssilorLuxottica’s major lifestyle and luxury brands, including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Oliver Peoples, Transitions, Fedon. At the Espansione Spa, visitors also had the chance to experience the future of light therapy first-hand, feeling the immediate relief provided by a demo session of Light Modulation™ Low-level Light Therapy, Espansione’s patented Photobiomodulation technology.
SWITCH translated industry transformation into practical action, showing how tomorrow’s optical store can drive better patient outcomes, stronger differentiation and new growth opportunities.
The event brought together world-leading experts in artificial intelligence, myopia management, wearables, luxury and scientific frontiers to engage participants in forward-looking conversations, designed to translate this transformation into concrete opportunities for ECPs. These included Professors José-Alain Sahel1, Sharon Kujawa2 and Effy Vayena3 from EssilorLuxottica’s Scientific Advisory Committee, Pr.Raymond P.Najjar (Visual neuroscientist and assistant Prof at National University of Singapore), Dr. Tan ( President of AOMA -Asian Optometry & Management Association) Jean-François Porte ( President of ROF -Rassemblement des Opticiens de France and Co‑founder of Edgard Opticiens) Shawn Kanungo (Innovation strategist and best-selling author) as well as Oakley Ambassador Sir Mark Cavendish, the greatest sprinter in the history of the Tour and cycling. The event was moderated by Shawn Kanungo and actress Elizabeth Wautlet.
Switch – Recoding Vision reaffirmed a clear conviction: the future of vision care is not something to wait for – it is something to build, together.
A selection of recordings of the event will be available on the Leonardo learning platform in the coming weeks.
- MD, 2024 Wolf prize winner. Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Emeritus at Sorbonne Université.
- PhD, 2017 Callier prize winner. Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School; Principal Investigator at the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, Mass Eye and Ear.
- PhD. Professor of Bioethics at ETH Zürich; Visiting Lecturer at the Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School.
