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'We're the standard bearers for the contact lens industry,' joked UK and Ireland professional relations manager Karl Aberdeen, describing Optrafair as an opportunity to promote both itself and its products, this year in particular. 'Everything came together for us, with Proclear Multifocal winning Contact Lens Product of the Year in the Optician Awards and our lecture on the CET programme. We're also promoting our Vision Extra contact lens payment plans.'
He saw the show as a 'completely different animal' from BCLA. 'We get more interaction with visitors and more quality time here than we do at the BCLA. Here it's full on from the time we open to the time we close.'
Aberdeen also praised Optrafair's 'slick and seamless' organisation and said CooperVision would definitely return in two years' time. Its strategy on next year's London show, like others in the sector, was to 'wait and see'.
No7 Contact Lenses also saw merit in having a presence at Optrafair. Sales executive Tony Hodgson reported interest in the Safilens Fusion 1 Day daily disposable. Making its first UK appearance at the show, the lens is made from a bi-polymer of hyaluronic acid and tamarind seed polysaccharide.
No7's next outing is an unusual one: the Mum's Show Live at Alexandra Palace in May where it will talk to parents about orthokeratology.
Bausch+Lomb has also been a consistent supporter of Optrafair, missing only one show in the past eight years. Professional relations manager for northern Europe Nichola Menzel reported 'really good leads' and new customers interested in its new BioTrue ONEday lens.
So had the stand been inundated with questions about the recent withdrawal of Fluorets? Although B+L had been prepared for enquiries, as of midday on Monday only three visitors had brought the subject up.
On the Mid-Optic stand, the timing of Optrafair could not have been better. The day before the show opened the MHRA had confirmed that the wholesaler's CE-marked BioGlo fluorescein strips could be used by UK optometrists.
Sales and marketing director Richard Hardy said Mid-Optic had worked closely with B+L on this issue and he was pleased to be able to offer an alternative product. 'Everyone's been talking and asking about the situation,' he said.
Packs of 100 strips would be in stock from April 22 and 300-strip packs within 2-3 weeks. The company also markets lissamine green and TearFlo Schirmer-type strips.
Two overseas companies exhibiting at Optrafair for the first time were Netherlands-based Oté Group and Korean manufacturer Interojo, with its range of aspheric and cosmetic soft lenses. Both will also be exhibiting at BCLA in June.
Oté's Premium solution range is available in the UK from No 7 although a majority of its business is private label. Export sales manager Jorn van Hoevelaak said the atmosphere at Optrafair was good but he was not sure that the show was the right place for private label customers.
The BCLA had its own stand in the Contact Lens Pavilion promoting the June conference and its new branding. It will soon be unveiling its new website with more interactive functionality. In-practice learning supplier Positive Impact completed the line-up, discussing its 'Trusted Vision Adviser' training scheme. ?