EssilorLuxottica has hosted its 2026 partners’ event, attended by 185 business partners at the prestigious Lands by Capella in Sydney.
The evening in late April began with a welcome address by Stephen Locke, Vice President Professional Solutions – Optical, and was followed by a presentation from Dr Michele Ginocchietti, Head of EssilorLuxottica Australia and New Zealand who shared insights on the innovation pathway at EssilorLuxottica.
Reflecting on the broader direction of the industry, Dr Ginocchietti noted, “The vision care industry is at an inflection point unlike anything we have seen before,” highlighting the rapid evolution of clinical practice, digital tools and patient expectations.
He also emphasised the central role of eye care professionals in this evolution, stating, “The trust a patient places in the practitioner across the consulting room is something that cannot be engineered, disrupted, or replaced.”
Reinforcing the company’s commitment to the region, Dr Ginocchietti said, “What I am committed to, in this role, is making sure that everything EssilorLuxottica builds and brings to ANZ makes your practice stronger, more capable and confident in satisfying the patients’ needs”.
What I am committed to, in this role, is making sure that everything EssilorLuxottica builds and brings to ANZ makes your practice stronger, more capable and confident in satisfying the patients’ needs
Advancing Lens Innovation
A key focus of the evening was the advancement of lens innovation, beginning with EssilorLuxottica’s Varilux portfolio. A presentation titled ‘Varilux: Translating real-world visual behaviour into progressive lens design – a prescriber’s perspective’ was led by Janine Hobson from Young Eyes Optometrists and Belinda Hannan, EssilorLuxottica Strategic Partnerships Manager, and complemented by a Q&A session. Ms Hannan also provided insights on Varilux Immersia, the latest occupational lens within the Varilux portfolio, that is designed for near and intermediate vision.
Next, Dr Loren Rose, paediatric ophthalmologist and founder of Myopia Australia, alongside Sephora Miao, Medical and Professional Affairs Director for EssilorLuxottica ANZ, presented on ‘Addressing the myopia epidemic’ highlighting the latest evidence and innovations in myopia management with Essilor Stellest 2.0 lenses. The evening then concluded with a review of Essilor Express achievements over its first year; the local initiative aims to provide a faster lens service for independent optometry practices in Australia.
Additionally, the evening offered EssilorLuxottica an opportunity to showcase a selection of its latest innovative devices and technologies, including installations for Nuance Audio Glasses, Essilor Stellest 2.0 Lenses, OptiMed, and Oakley and Ray-Ban AI glasses.
Notable attendees from the eye care community included incoming Eyecare Plus General Manager and optometrist Lily Wegrzynowski; optometrists Emma Gillies, Margaret Lam and Oliver Woo; as well as Amanda Trotman CEO of Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Australia, and April Petrusma, CEO of Optical Dispensers Australia.
