SILMO Paris 2026 Review: The Complete Smart Eyewear Line-Up Stepping Into the Dispensary

Following the conclusion of SILMO Paris 2026 last month, one message was unequivocally clear on the show floor: smart glasses are no longer a speculative tech novelty, but a legitimate, burgeoning category for the optical industry. 

For Australian eyecare professionals, the conversation around connected eyewear has decisively shifted from "if" to "how". At this year’s edition, held from September 25-28 at Paris Nord Villepinte, the integration of artificial intelligence and wearable tech into aesthetically viable frames took centre stage. The event’s dedicated "Tech Village" and SILMO NEXT programming highlighted how smart eyewear is actively being woven into the purchasing cycles of optical retailers and labs worldwide. 

To help Australian practice owners and dispensers navigate this rapidly evolving landscape, here is a comprehensive comparative look at the major smart eyewear companies and innovators that exhibited at SILMO Paris 2026.

 

The SILMO d’Or 2026 Smart Eyewear Contenders

The most definitive indicator of industry direction is the prestigious SILMO d’Or awards. This year’s "Smart Eyewear" category featured a highly competitive shortlist of five major players, proving the sector's rapid maturation.

GETD & Marienfeld - The SILMO d’Or 2026 Winner

Taking home the top prize was Shenzhen-based maker GetD, in partnership with Switzerland’s Marienfeld, for "The Luxury AI Glasses". The judging panel recognised this model for successfully marrying high-end design with functional technology, specifically noting its use of coloured full carbon fibre. The frames integrate AI interaction, health monitoring, premium audio, and Apple Find My integration, all while preserving the aesthetics and comfort of a traditional front frame. For dispensers, this is a critical proof-of-concept: patients will not sacrifice aesthetics for functionality.

Ray-Ban Meta (EssilorLuxottica) - The Mainstream Giant

EssilorLuxottica continues to dominate the conversational AI space, and at SILMO 2026, they showcased the highly anticipated "Ray-Ban Meta Display". Moving beyond audio-only smart glasses, this new iteration features an integrated display within the lenses paired with wrist-based controls, offering a seamless, heads-up AI experience. Its nomination alongside independent brands signals that major optical conglomerates are fully committed to making display-based AR a dispensary reality.

Even Realities - The Professional’s Choice

Even Realities continued to build strong industry momentum with their "Even G2" smart glasses. Operating on the core premise that "smart glasses belong in the optical industry", the G2 features a discreet, AI-powered built-in display. It offers practical, everyday utilities such as real-time translation, teleprompter functions, and map directions without the overt, bulky "heads-up display" look of early augmented reality prototypes. 

SOLOS - The Modular Prescription Pioneer

SOLOS exhibited their "AirGo V2 & Privacy Kit", which fuses prescription-ready glasses with an advanced AI platform. A standout feature for optical professionals is its modular frame architecture, which allows for interchangeable fronts and full prescription-lens compatibility. The system also offers developers access to real-time video streaming and sensor data via the Solos SDK, positioning it as a strong platform for future health and vision applications.

VONDER - The Privacy-First Innovator

Making a strong impression in the smart eyewear category was VONDER with their "Intelligent Eyewear". VONDER’s core philosophy is "eyewear first", focusing heavily on user privacy and seamless integration. Their standout feature is the use of patented bone-conduction microphones designed specifically around the wearer’s anatomy, ensuring clear audio capture and privacy without compromising the frame's silhouette.

 

Emerging Innovators & Specialised Solutions

Beyond the award nominees, several other companies presented compelling solutions tailored to the practical realities of optical retail and clinical care.

EverySight - The Prescription-Ready AR Pioneer

EverySight made a significant impact at SILMO 2026 by unveiling their next-generation "Maverick" AI glasses. Operating on the core philosophy of "eyewear first, tech second", EverySight showcased a device featuring a full-colour AR display that weighs just 47 grams. Crucially for optical professionals, EverySight emphasised prescription lens support via a dedicated RX adaptor, ensuring these smart glasses can be seamlessly dispensed to patients.

INMO Technology - The Wireless AR & AI Translator

INMO Technology made a strong impression at SILMO 2026, showcasing its latest consumer-grade wireless AR glasses, including the INMO Air3 and INMO GO3. INMO actively participated in SILMO’s dedicated sessions on "Smart glasses optics and prescription" solutions, signaling a clear commitment to adapting their cutting-edge AR hardware for patients requiring corrective lenses.

ROKID - The Display AI & Multi-LLM Specialist

ROKID exhibited their latest generation of AI glasses with integrated display technology, positioning themselves as a leader in the "Display AI" category. Their showcase highlighted multi-LLM (Large Language Model) support and, critically for the B2B optical market, full prescription lens compatibility. ROKID’s focus on reinventing intelligent eyewear specifically for the optical industry makes them a strong contender for practices looking to offer advanced, screen-based AR experiences.

HTC VIVE - Enterprise-Grade Everyday AI

HTC VIVE made a notable return to the smart eyewear conversation with the launch of the "HTC Vive Eagle". Designed to offer an alternative vision for what AI smart glasses should be, the Vive Eagle integrates advanced AI capabilities (including support for major language models) while heavily emphasizing user privacy and everyday wearability. Their presence at SILMO underscores a strategic pivot toward the optical industry as the primary gateway for mainstream smart glasses adoption.

Lucyd Audio Eyewear - The Mainstream Lifestyle Bridge

Making a strong push in the lifestyle category, Lucyd (by Innovative Eyewear) showcased its latest smart frames prominently within the SILMO NEXT Tech Village. Positioned as eyewear that “sounds as good as it looks,” Lucyd’s offerings integrate open-ear audio, seamless phone call handling, and AI assistant compatibility without sacrificing traditional frame aesthetics. For optical retailers, Lucyd represents a highly accessible entry point into connected eyewear across optical, sporting, and safety segments.

BleeqUp (FutureBleep Technology Limited) - The AI Sports Eyewear Specialist

Operating under the brand name BleeqUp, FutureBleep Technology Limited showcased their "Frezz BleeqUp" sports AI glasses. This innovative line integrates a 4-in-1 camera, directional audio system, and advanced microphones specifically designed for the outdoor sports market. Notably, they highlighted prescription lens options, making high-performance, connected sports eyewear a viable dispensing category for Australian optometrists working with active patients.

Lunettes Sport Connect (SportConnect) - Performance Tech Eyewear
French brand SportConnect exhibited their performance-driven tech eyewear, such as the XPRO ULTRA. Blending performance, technology, and style, their frames feature integrated camera technology and rugged designs tailored for active lifestyles. This represents a growing niche in the smart eyewear market where durability and sport-specific functionality meet connected features.

iVision Tech - The Clinical Accessibility Pioneer

On the clinical and accessibility front, Italian B2B eyewear specialist iVision Tech presented a compelling use case for smart eyewear in low vision care. The company showcased the "iSee One" smart glasses, a device specifically designed to help blind and visually impaired individuals better perceive their surroundings and detect obstacles. Notably developed with direct input from the blind community, the iSee glasses are registered as a Class 1 Medical Device, highlighting a mature, medically validated approach to wearable assistive technology.

Meta-Bounds - Solving the Weight Equation

One of the most persistent barriers to smart glasses adoption has been frame weight. Meta-Bounds directly addressed this by unveiling a remarkably lightweight 25-gram display AI eyewear reference design. By showcasing swappable frames, Meta-Bounds demonstrated a modular approach that allows the technology to adapt to individual patient face shapes and style preferences.

 

What This Means for the Australian Eyecare Sector

The overarching theme of SILMO Paris 2026 is that the "tech-first" approach is being decisively replaced by an "eyewear-first" philosophy. For Australian optometrists, optical dispensers, and practice owners, this presents both an opportunity and a mandate for upskilling. 

Patients are increasingly aware of AI wearables, and practices must be prepared to discuss prescription compatibility, lens thickness implications, charging routines, and data privacy alongside traditional frame adjustments. The diversity of this year’s exhibitors, from luxury carbon-fibre designs (GetD) and mainstream audio integration (Lucyd) to clinical accessibility tools (iVision Tech), proves that there is now a smart eyewear solution for nearly every patient demographic.

Looking Ahead

As the industry looks toward SILMO’s 60th anniversary in 2027, the foundation laid in 2026 is undeniable. Smart eyewear is no longer a peripheral exhibition curiosity; it is a core growth vertical. Australian eyecare professionals who begin educating their teams, engaging with these exhibitors, and curating select, high-quality smart eyewear options now will be best positioned to lead this inevitable shift in the local market.