ZVA Marks 75th Anniversary with Berlin Gala and Campaign Launch

On October 10, 2026, ZVA delegates convened in Berlin for the Obermeister conference during Sicht.Kontakte. The event featured a joint opening with VDCO and IVBS to integrate scientific and professional perspectives. Discussions focused on eye screening models, including Skleo Health’s collaboration with dm and ECOO’s iScreen project, emphasizing the need for qualified opticians to interpret results. ZVA President Kai Jaeger highlighted regulatory successes, noting a court ruling requiring handcraft standards for remote refraction and new regulations allowing opticians to conduct vision tests for commercial drivers since August. Wolfgang Müller received the ZVA Gold Honor for his long-standing work in standardization committees.

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.

The Central Association of Opticians and Optometrists (ZVA) marked its 75th anniversary on October 9, 2026, during the SICHT.KONTAKTE event in Berlin. Founded in Bad Godesberg in 1951, the association hosted a gala attended by representatives from crafts, science, and industry. President Kai Jaeger highlighted recent regulatory successes, including new master optician ordinances and remote refraction clarifications, while emphasizing the value of craft-based representation. Guests included ZDH executive Karl-Sebastian Schulte and ECOO president Gabriëlle Janssen, who underscored national and European cooperation. Professor Timo Mappes discussed the upcoming reopening of the German Optical Museum in Jena, noting the ZVA’s donation of a historical eyewear collection. A panel addressed future challenges involving smart glasses, AI, and evolving optometric care models.

The Central Association of Opticians and Optometrists (ZVA) marked its 75th anniversary with a gala evening in Berlin on October 9, 2026, during the Sicht.Kontakte event. Founded in 1951, the association represents German optician interests. President Kai Jaeger highlighted historical milestones and volunteer contributions. Discussions covered new master optician regulations, expanded examinations for commercial drivers, remote refraction procedures, and continued cooperation within the ZDH until 2031. Guest speakers from ZDH and ECOO emphasized strong advocacy. Professor Timo Mappes presented industry history, aided by a historic eyewear collection donated by the ZVA to the German Optical Museum in Jena. A panel addressed AI, smart glasses, and future optometric care models.

On October 10, delegates from the Central Association of Opticians and Optometrists (ZVA) gathered in Berlin for the annual Obermeister conference during SICHT.KONTAKTE. The meeting focused on current professional policy developments and the future role of optometry in preventive healthcare. For the first time, the opening session was co-organized with scientific specialist associations, emphasizing dialogue and professional exchange.

The Central Association of Opticians and Optometrists (ZVA) marked its 75th anniversary on October 9, 2026, during the SICHT.KONTAKTE event in Berlin. Founded in 1951, the association hosted a gala evening attended by guests from the optical trade, science, and industry sectors. The celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on significant milestones in the organization's history while facilitating discussions on emerging technologies, evolving care models, and the future role of the optometry profession.

The Central Association of Opticians and Optometrists (ZVA) has launched a new round of its nationwide "Ihre Innungsoptiker – Qualität, die man sieht" campaign. Visually updated with stronger color accents to highlight optician services, the initiative combines federal online advertising with local participation tools for member businesses. Key components include the consumer website innungsoptiker.de featuring an optician search function and customizable business profiles. Starting in autumn 2026, the campaign will target students via Germany’s largest learning platform, Studyflix, displaying videos and career profiles. Additionally, members can utilize socialPALS for automated or customized posts on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Materials are available through regional associations and the zva.de member area, aiming to strengthen visibility for stationary optical care and attract vocational talent.

The German Central Association of Ophthalmic Opticians (ZVA) marked its 75th anniversary in August 2026, highlighting its transformation from a traditional office to a modern interest representation body. Long-time Managing Director Joachim Goerdt (1983–2013) and his successor Dr. Jan Wetzel (since 2013) discussed the association's success factors, emphasizing personnel continuity and deep industry knowledge as critical assets. While technological shifts from fax machines to digital voice recognition altered daily operations, both leaders noted that understanding member concerns remains vital. Wetzel pointed out that digitalization and the pandemic accelerated communication speeds, requiring faster responses from members, politicians, and media. The article attributes the ZVA’s enduring relevance to these structural strengths rather than chance.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the German Central Association of Opticians (ZVA), former presidents Thomas Nosch, Thomas Truckenbrod, and Christian Müller discussed the evolution of the role in a DOZ interview. The association has been led by ten presidents over seven decades, with volunteer engagement cited as its core strength. Truckenbrod emphasized his interest in shaping professional policy, while Nosch highlighted the advantage of entering the presidency from outside traditional guild structures. Müller noted his extensive prior experience within regional associations prepared him for the responsibilities of the office. The discussion addressed how leadership requirements have changed and future challenges facing the optics industry.

The Central Association of German Opticians (ZVA) concluded its anniversary series by profiling the daily operations and staff roles within its Düsseldorf headquarters. Press spokesperson Sarah Köster introduced key employees, including receptionist Anabel Gebhardt, who serves as the primary contact point since March 2022; event organizer Christoph Baum, who manages logistics and technical support while overseeing the COE training procedure; and Managing Director Dr. Jan Wetzel, who has led the office since 2013. The report details how these individuals handle legal inquiries, industry data analysis, event coordination, and vocational education development. It emphasizes the collaborative nature of association work, linking professional expertise with administrative functions to support the optical trade’s interests in politics, healthcare systems, and public communication.