BIRMINGHAM, U.K.—Organizers of Optrafair, the show held here earlier this month at the NEC halls, report that more than 6,000 individual visitors and a total of 7,517 over the course of the Fair, attended the 2013 event to see more than 200 different exhibitors at the exhibition—including a delegate who traveled from Ghana for the educational lectures and to buy accessories. Others came from Nigeria, the U.S., Belgium, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Ireland.

Attendees included eyecare professionals and practice staff. Part of the event included meetings of various ophthalmic organizations, the ABDO conference, The OPTICIAN Awards, a comprehensive educational program and all of the relevant charities which were sponsored with free space, "to make the show a real gathering of UK optics," said Optrafair chairman, Malcolm Polley.

New features introduced by The Federation of Manufacturing Opticians (FMO) also included a window dressing competition and the FMO Awards for the best stands, won by Nikon and Ronit Furst. The Guide Dogs display and the Routemaster bus promoting Optrafair London in 2014 all added to the vibrancy of the show, organizers said.