The 37th China International Optics Fair (CIOF 2026) was recently held in Beijing. More than 600 exhibitors and over 1,500 domestic and international brands gathered, showcasing new materials, new equipment, and new solutions, and outlining a future of greater specialization, intelligence, and integration in the eyewear industry.
As consumers’ eye-health needs continue to rise, how can the industry respond effectively? The fair gave an answer: breaking through through scientific and technological innovation is key to securing development.
In the myopia prevention and control area, cutting-edge technologies for protecting young people’s vision became the focus. Several innovative myopia-control lenses attracted many industry visitors. Unlike traditional multi-point defocus lenses, a contrast-reducing lens developed with a university laboratory stood out for its unique optical design. Its surface has a uniform array of microstructures, each about 30 microns in diameter and made through photolithography, which softens incoming light and reduces stimulation of retinal cells.
Beyond lenses and other hardware, myopia control is moving from single products toward full-process management based on “hardware + data services.” Some smart frames have built-in sensor chips that record how long children wear glasses and whether they use their eyes while looking down, turning vague eye-use habits into concrete reference data. Dispensing opticians can also use these records, together with analysis of wearing habits and posture, to create personalized myopia-control plans and more targeted interventions, meeting parents’ expectations for results.
Vision training devices also flourished, expanding the boundaries of eye-health services. Distance-viewing screens use optical refraction to turn near reading into simulated distance viewing. Red-light therapy and traditional Chinese medicine eye steamers provide physical relief for eye fatigue and dry eye. Gamified stereoscopic vision training devices package otherwise boring accommodation and convergence training as fun interactions such as simulated driving, addressing the problem that children often find training hard to continue. Reading and writing desk lamps also appeared, forming a complete eye-health ecosystem covering screening, correction, training, and relief.
The fair’s innovative energy was also reflected in the crossover between traditional optics and AI hardware. In the smart glasses area, many AI optical products were displayed. Lightweight audio smart glasses, equipped with a new-generation solid-state nuclear battery, can charge in about 10 minutes, enable hands-free calls and one-touch recording, and rely on a built-in large model to automatically organize meeting notes, extract key points and to-do items, acting as a portable audio assistant. Smart glasses with optical display screens offer real-time translation, subtitles, and other functions. However, added functions also add weight, making weight and wearing comfort important considerations for product iteration.
How to balance display functions with prescription eyewear needs has become a direction the industry is exploring. There are currently two technical routes: magnetic attachments make it easy for offline optical shops to change lenses, but double-layer lenses cause light transmission loss; factory direct bonding offers better optical performance but requires prescriptions to be customized in advance.
As the supply chain matures, the quality of smart glasses has improved noticeably. Many manufacturers have optimized structures and optical processes, reduced overall weight, improved hinge and frame durability, reduced light leakage and chromatic dispersion, and improved drop, temperature, and humidity reliability testing. Still, insufficient battery life, localized heating, and AI interaction interference from the environment remain pain points the industry must overcome.
The fair was not just a showcase for new products, but also a platform for industry self-reflection and joint efforts toward high-quality development. On the opening day, the China Optometric and Optical Association launched a self-discipline convention signing pledge, calling on the industry to abide by laws and regulations, uphold integrity, put quality first, provide standardized services, compete fairly, and develop collaboratively; to guide professional ethics, standardize business behavior, improve professional skills, optimize service quality, and build a good social image. It also called for resisting vicious low-price competition, false advertising, and intellectual property infringement. Industry people actively signed the commitment wall, pledging to jointly protect innovative companies’ R&D achievements.
The International Smart Optics Industry Matchmaking Conference was held at the same time, with buyers from Malaysia, South Korea, and other places meeting Chinese companies face to face to connect supply and demand. During the fair, several optometry forums discussed personalized correction, biometric myopia management, adolescent astigmatism management, and other topics, providing professional theoretical insights for the industry.
Through this fair, this reporter felt that the eyewear industry has long moved beyond its traditional role of simply dispensing glasses. It is now driven by technological innovation and a leap in product quality. Breakthroughs in optical materials, digital empowerment, and upgraded service models are intertwined. Behind each exhibit is the industry’s responsibility to protect public visual health. Looking ahead, the optical industry is continuing to tap new quality productive forces and bring cutting-edge technologies to millions of households.
Source: China Quality News