ZVA Celebrates 75th Anniversary at Sichtkontakte in Berlin

The Central Association of Opticians and Optometrists (ZVA) marked its 75th anniversary with a gala attended by approximately 150 guests during the Sichtkontakte trade fair in Berlin on October 14, 2026. President Kai Jaeger acknowledged that while the association was formally re-established in 1954 following the 1953 Handwerksordnung, the organization maintains tradition by citing its April 21, 1951 founding date. A planned greeting from the German Federal Ministry of Health was cancelled due to leadership changes involving Nina Warken and Carsten Linnemann. Representatives from the European Council of Optometry and Optics (ECOO) and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH) delivered addresses. The event concluded with a panel discussion on technological change and optometry’s future role in healthcare, alongside previews of the upcoming Deutsches Optisches Museum opening in Jena, scheduled for late 2028.