Vision-X provides a platform to thousands of regional eye care professionals to learn skills and share best practises
For the first time in its history, this year’s Vision-X – the Middle East’s only dedicated event for the optical trade – will offer regional opticians and optometrists with fully-accredited education sessions to update their professional skills.
Offering the essential continued professional development required by the optical healthcare industry, the Continuing Medical Education (CME) accredited programme is one of the most anticipated features of this year’s Opticare Conference – a primary attraction at Vision-X 2014, which runs November 25-27 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
“It is extremely important for us to be speaking at the Vision–X Opticare Conference, as a part of Continuous Medical Education for eye care professionals to improve and expand their education,” said Pragatti Kadve, Professional Affairs Consultant at Johnson and Johnson, who will be running the CME session on Astigmatism. “This type of event is a great forum that allows us to engage and communicate the latest technological research findings across all relevant optometry fields.”
The UAE National Committee for Eye Health estimates there are more than 1,200 practicing eye health professionals in the Emirates – meaning UAE-based ophthalmologists represent nearly 15 per cent of all ophthalmologists currently practicing or training across the MENA region, according to the International Council of Ophthalmology.
Bassima Aldelaigan, Chief of the Optometry Department at Al Raed Consultant Medical Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said, “As an educator, I am very keen to participate in local and regional conferences as it is part of my responsibility to the profession. Vision-X is a place where you get to teach optometrists and opticians from different backgrounds and, as the only optical meeting in the Middle East, the Vision-X Opticare Conference is a great occasion for all eye health professionals to meet and share knowledge and expertise.”
Accredited by the Dubai Health Authority, the Vision-X Opticare Conference is the ultimate dedicated platform for all MENA optical health professionals requiring ongoing medical and business training to maintain their professional skills and learn about new and developing areas of their field. In total, there will be 9.75 CME hours available to attendees and delegates at the Vision-X Opticare Conference.
The conference addresses various aspects of the field including a clinical and technical programme focusing on sharing knowledge in the latest developments and procedures, along with an integrated marketing and management programme providing retail excellence and customer service sessions. The conference segments will include the most recent updates on key eye health topics such as myopia, testing children, ocular disease and astigmatism.
The Vision-X Hosted Buyer Programme returns to provide top-level buyers with a specialist, tailored forum to meet leading international and regional manufacturers, suppliers and distributors showcasing the latest trends in fashion eyewear and medical eye care products, as well as attend Business Breakfast and networking meetings with leading speakers at the Future in Focus zone.
Making its debut at Vision-X this year, the Future in Focus feature allows health care professionals to meet international business leaders and global experts in one-to-one sessions where they can discuss various management practice issues, experience Google Glass and learn how to really leverage social media for their businesses. As a unified platform for the optical sector’s fashion and medical spheres, Vision-X features two distinct zones: Optistyle, a dedicated arena for retail opticians and optometrists, and Opticare, a platform covering the entire spectrum of technical eye care products and services, where eye care providers, medical practitioners and technology suppliers will discuss and display the latest services, equipment and machinery on the show-floor.
Running alongside the event is the new Vision-X VP Awards, launched in partnership with VisionPlus Arabia Magazine. The only dedicated celebration of excellence in the Middle East’s optical industry, the awards have attracted more than 130 global entries. The nominees have been shortlisted by a panel of leading regional retailers and industry professionals across 15 categories. Mail and online voting is now open until November 15, with the Vision-X VP Awards winners set to be announced at an exclusive ceremony on November 25 in Dubai.
Vision-X 2014 returns with support from Headline Sponsor, Vision & Fashion; Nikon & Kefan; Egma, GKB Hi-Tech and Medicals International. Held in DWTC’s Sheikh Saeed Halls from November 25-27, Vision-X Dubai is strictly a trade-only event. The show is open daily from 10am to 6pm on November 25 and 26 and 10am to 5pm on November 27. Registration is available in advance at the event’s new website: www.vision-x.ae.
