From 12-14 April, the inaugural Silmo Singapore event welcomed more than 250 international and local brands from over 15 countries. With 50% of the 2,175 attendees coming from overseas, it staked its claim as the region’s new optics meeting hub, while providing the perfect platform for the IOA to bring its members together again.
As well as being Silmo’s first foray into Southeast Asia, Silmo Singapore was also the first opportunity since the pandemic for the International Opticians’ Association (IOA) to meet face to face.
One of Silmo and IOA’s key collaborations is the Silmo IOA International Optician of the Year award and two of its most recent recipients, Grant Hannaford (Australia, 2022) and Helen Whitaker (Canada, 2021), presented at the Silmo Academy plenary sessions and the less formal Silmo Talks, both held as part of the regional optical fair at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre. So the event provided a great opportunity for dispensing opticians from across the world to discuss the future of the association and how it can adapt to the changing environment we operate in.
Organised chiefly by IOA development director Elaine Grisdale, the Silmo Academy is aimed at optometrists and opticians seeking key insights and best practices from renowned international experts. The two-day scientific symposium explored topics such as myopia management, lifestyle and ophthalmic practice, plus primary care. However, for me, the show’s highlight was the area featuring three unique spaces exploring future trends and innovation in the eyewear and eyecare sector.
