Optometridagarna 2026 draws 630 attendees in Gothenburg; Brautaset anticipates industry split

Optometridagarna 2026 took place in Gothenburg, attracting 630 participants compared to nearly 900 the previous year. Rune Brautaset, chair of the Swedish Association of Opticians, attributed the lower attendance to the non-Stockholm location and Synsam's decision to send only its exhibition rather than optician staff. Despite the drop, Brautaset expressed satisfaction with the event's atmosphere and increased focus on panel discussions regarding Nordic market structures and optician-ophthalmologist collaboration. Research presented by Tomas Bro indicated that cataract and glaucoma alone will increase total eye care needs by 19 percent by 2040 due to an aging population. Brautaset suggested this demographic shift may lead to a fragmented industry where optical retailers specialize in distinct market segments rather than competing for identical customers.