EssilorLuxottica has brought together more than 1,200 eyecare professionals from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand at its SWITCH Monaco event to examine changes shaping the delivery of vision care.
A central feature of the meeting was the ‘Switch Your Store’ experience, an interactive, full-scale demonstration of a potential future optical practice. The installation guided participants through a combined retail and clinical environment incorporating diagnostics, artificial intelligence and connected devices into a single patient journey.
According to the company, the concept integrates wearables such as Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta, alongside lens technologies including Varilux lenses, Crizal and Stellest, as well as hearing solutions such as Nuance Audio and AI-enabled diagnostic tools. EssilorLuxottica said the model demonstrates how optical practices could support patient outcomes and business performance, though these claims were not independently verified.
The event, held in Monaco, focused on three broad trends: the growing role of the eye in overall health assessment, the development of connected eyewear, and the need for more accessible, community-based care.
Presentations highlighted advances in imaging and artificial intelligence that are enabling earlier detection of systemic and neurological conditions through the eye, in some cases before symptoms appear. Speakers described the eye as a potential access point for broader health monitoring, with implications for earlier diagnosis and more preventive models of care.
The discussions also pointed to an expanded role for eyecare professionals, particularly as healthcare systems face increasing demand. This includes earlier detection of disease, ongoing patient management and participation in more connected care pathways.
EssilorLuxottica said developments in lenses and connected eyewear are creating new applications across performance, prevention and assistive use, while also broadening the types of services that may be delivered in optical settings. The company also referenced light-based therapies, including Light Modulation low-level light therapy using Espansione’s photobiomodulation technology, stating these can provide immediate relief in demonstration settings.
The program included contributions from experts in artificial intelligence, myopia management and neuroscience, including José-Alain Sahel, Sharon Kujawa and Effy Vayena, as well as visual neuroscientist Raymond P. Najjar. Discussions focused on how emerging technologies and clinical insights may translate into practical changes in eyecare delivery.
EssilorLuxottica said the SWITCH event reflects a broader shift towards more integrated, technology-enabled vision care, with eyecare professionals positioned as key providers within evolving healthcare systems.
“Our industry is on the edge of a profound transformation, and EssilorLuxottica is committed to leading this change through innovation that creates tangible value for both our consumers and eyecare professionals,” head of EssilorLuxottica ANZ, Michele Ginocchietti, said.
“By adapting cutting-edge technological solutions to meet modern day-to-day needs, we aim to drive innovation in the eyecare industry in ANZ. Our partners won’t just benefit from the change, they will be active players as, together, we drive to support market growth.”
