Bad Habits “The Eye Docs of Rock” to Perform at Opening Night Party on Thursday, September 23

Alexandria, VA – September 9, 2021 – The Vision Council and RX, co-organizers of Vision Expo, today announce details on the opening night party and other special events planned for Vision Expo West 2021.

“We are excited to offer our attendees ample opportunities to safely network and socialize beyond the Show Floor,” said Fran Pennella, Vice President, Vision Expo, RX.  “All health and safety protocols in place at the Show will be implemented at the opening night party and other special events, ensuring a safe and comfortable for attendees to reconnect and have fun.”

Bad Habits “The EyeDocs of Rock,” the longtime rock band comprised of several practicing optometrists, will perform at Vision Expo West’s opening night party on Thursday, September 23.  The party will take place from 9:00 p.m. until midnight at the Hard Rock Café, located at 3771 Las Vegas Blvd.  All Vision Expo attendees are invited to the opening night party. Attendee badges are required for entry. An open bar will be offered from 9p.m. to 10p.m.

“Our love of rock music brought us together more than 30 years ago and we love sharing our passion with fellow eyecare professionals,” said bassist Michael “Jules” Raies, OD. “We’re looking forward to kicking off Vision Expo West with a really fun show and hope to see everyone there.”

The longtime band started playing together in 1987 when three of the current members were optometry students at Ohio State. Bassist Michael “Jules” Raies, OD; keyboardist/guitarist Mark Schindler; guitarist Pat Dollenmayer, OD; keyboard player Bob Glass, OD; and drummer Tony Fenton, OD have performed at numerous optometry conventions and events since 2000. The band has also played at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has been an opening act for classic rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Cheap Trick. All the band members but Schindler are practicing optometrists.

For more information on the opening night party, click here.

Also on Thursday, September 23, Prevent Blindness, the nation’s leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight, will also host its Person of Vision event in conjunction with the Show.  The Prevent Blindness Person of Vision Award recognizes an individual or organization whose inspired outlook champions healthy vision and its importance for a healthy life. The 2021 award will honor Marc Ferrara of Jobson Medical Information. All proceeds from the 2021 event will go to support the sight-saving programs of Prevent Blindness. The event will take place at TAO Nightclub in The Venetian from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information on the event, click here.

Additionally, the ODs on Facebook Party will take place on Friday, September 24 from 7:30-9:30p.m. at Drai’s Nightclub.  Free to all eyecare professionals, attendees are invited to attend and make in-person connections with online friends from ODs on Facebook.  Vision Expo badges are required for entry.  For more information, click here.

Vision Expo is carefully monitoring the evolving health and safety protocols in Nevada and will update its VisionSAFE protocols to adhere to the most up-to-date recommendations and guidelines as needed. For the latest VisionSAFE guidelines, click here.

Vision Expo West 2021 will take place at The Venetian Convention Center & Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 22-25, 2021. The Show’s educational program, together with OptiCon®@Vision Expo, will open Wednesday, Sept. 22 and exhibits will open Thursday, Sept. 23. To register for Vision Expo West 2021, click here.

For more information on Vision Expo, visit visionexpo.com and follow Vision Expo’s social media channels, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.   

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About Vision Expo
Vision Expo East and West are trade-only conferences and exhibitions for eyecare and eyewear presented by co-owners RX and The Vision Council. Vision Expo is the complete event for ophthalmic professionals, where eyecare meets eyewear, and education, fashion and innovation mingle. In the Vision Expo Exhibit Hall, eyecare providers can discover trends, interact with new technologies and access innovative products and services. The Vision Expo education program is driven by the profession, offering content of the highest quality and relevance to enhance overall patient care. For more information, visit VisionExpo.com and follow Vision Expo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.   

About The Vision Council
As the vision care leader in enabling better vision for better lives, The Vision Council positions its members for success by promoting growth in the vision care industry through education, advocacy, research, consumer outreach, strategic relationship building and industry forums. Furthermore, through a partnership with Think About Your Eyes, The Vision Council supports consumer education around eyewear and eyecare.

About RX
RX is in the business of building businesses for individuals, communities and organisations. We elevate the power of face-to-face events by combining data and digital products to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at over 400 events in 22 countries across 43 industry sectors. RX is passionate about making a positive impact on society and is fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.rxglobal.com