Photo courtesy of the Consumer Technology Association.
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LAS VEGAS—CES 2019, which kicked off on Tuesday, is the largest and most influential tech event in the world. It’s where the entire technology ecosystem gathers to conduct business, launch products, build brands and partner to solve some of today's most pressing societal challenges. More than 4,500 exhibitors will launch transformative tech to more than 180,000 attendees, encompassing 5G connectivity, artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, smart cities and resilience, sports, robotics and more.

A variety of vision technology is firmly embedded within this vast technoscape, including smart glasses, augmented reality glasses, virtual reality goggles, eye tracking glasses, assistive devices for blind and low vision people, video eyewear, vision testers and software for vision training. Although some of these products are designed for industrial use and other commercial applications, others are intended for eyecare practices and optical dispensaries and are already being used by tech savvy eyecare professionals.

A few bona fide optical companies are also showing their wares at CES this year, alongside the legions of tech and automotive industry exhibitors. Carl Zeiss Vision is previewing a tablet designed to sensitize consumers to the level of ultraviolet protection in their clear eyeglass lenses. RightEye is showcasing its eye-tracking system for general health care and wellness, including sports vision training. These companies are among a number of other vision tech innovators that can be found among the thousands of exhibitors in the Health and Wellness exhibit area in the Sands Convention Center, home of Vision Expo West.

CES continues to grow each year, and this year’s show features new and expanded exhibit areas, 250 conference sessions and 1,100 speakers, and more than 1,200 startups from over 50 countries.

Watch for additional CES 2019 coverage from VM’s Andrew Karp.