NEW YORK—A sold-out crowd of nearly 300 top optical industry executives gathered here Wednesday to hear speakers from both inside and outside the vision-care field address key issues affecting today’s business climate, at the second-annual Vision Monday Global Leadership Summit.

The event—produced by VM with sponsorship by Transitions Optical, Hoya, The Vision Council and DAC Vision—highlighted four key elements impacting the optical business: technology, retailing, luxury and health care.

Technology speakers included Erin Byrne, global chief digital strategist for Burson-Marsteller, who talked of the importance of companies’ online communication with consumers, and Lynn O’Connor Vos, chief executive officer/president of Grey Healthcare, who spoke of the growing trend toward “do-it-yourself doctors”—consumers who search out symptoms and self-diagnose health or vision problems on the Internet.

In the Retailing segment of the Summit, Dr. Tomás Pförtner, CEO of Argentina’s Laboratorio Pförtner Cornealent SACIF, outlined Latin America’s optical business, while Jeff McAllister, senior vice president, optical division, for Wal-Mart Stores, discussed how his company’s new emphasis on health and wellness carries over into its optical operations.

In the Luxury area, Ira Neimark, former CEO and chairman of Bergdorf Goodman, assured the Summit audience that “the luxury market is bigger and better than ever,” while Andrea Guerra, CEO of Luxottica Group, described the five characteristics of luxury—quality, personalization, the merchandising experience, exclusivity and tradition— and how they impact the high-end optical market.

Under Health Care, Rob Lynch, president and CEO of VSP Vision Care, predicted “a very strong future for managed vision care,” while John Agwunobi, MD, senior VP and president of Wal-Mart’s Health and Wellness Division, said Wal-Mart’s vision for this new division is to “help people save money so they can live healthier.”

View a slide show highlighting the day-long Leadership Summit and read expanded coverage of Summit speakers.