EssilorLuxottica’s acquisition of Nuance Hearing in 2023 brought the eyewear and eye care company into the hearing solutions market. The first product to emerge from this expansion is Nuance Audio, glasses frames that feature built-in, state-of-the-art hearing technology.
The device received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance in February 2025. In addition, it achieved CE marking under EU Medical Devices regulation – alongside the development of an ISO Quality Management System certification dedicated to hearing aids – which allows Nuance Audio to launch in Europe.
The New Optometrist sat down with Raffaello Infantino, Nuance Audio Director of System & Delivery Integration at EssilorLuxottica, to learn more about the product’s evolution.
Can you describe how Nuance Audio works and how the frames are an advancement on other hearing devices?
Nuance Audio provides an elegant, discreet solution for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. It blends cutting-edge audio software engineering, smart eyewear design, and user-friendly technology to deliver an enhanced auditory experience.
Nuance Audio features a microphone beamformer, which uses an array of microphones to focus on sound sources from a specific direction. This technique creates a “virtual microphone” that is highly sensitive to sounds coming from the desired direction, while effectively rejecting noise from other directions. This significantly improves speech intelligibility, even in noisy surroundings. The product includes two open-ear directional speakers that deliver sound in a way that feels natural and unobtrusive.
Nuance includes adjustable background noise reduction with low, medium, and high settings to suit different ambient noise levels, as well as volume control that can be set from 1 to 5 or turned off when not in use. There are four preconfigured amplification presets, allowing users to select the option that best meets their needs. The Frontal audio mode enables a “look where you want to hear” functionality by focusing on sound from a specific direction; All-Around captures sound from all directions in the environment. This functionality can be controlled remotely or through an app available on iOS and Android devices.
The Nuance Audio app is compatible with iOS devices running iOS 16 or later (release 0.3.7 onward) and Android devices running Android 12 or later with SDK 24 (release 0.4.1 onward).
Do eye care professionals need any extra training to be able to discuss and recommend Nuance Audio?
EssilorLuxottica’s learning ecosystem, Leonardo, hosts a certification program with step-by-step modules for the whole practice team to help them feel confident to talk about and recommend Nuance Audio.
The program is designed to give a comprehensive understanding of Nuance Audio glasses, from the benefits of their technology to presenting them effectively to customers. Eye care professionals (ECPs) can explore the fundamentals of hearing and gain insights from leading experts in the field of audiology. They can learn about Nuance Audio’s groundbreaking innovation and dive into the product’s features and details. The program, which takes around three hours to complete, also provides guidance on the best ways to present Nuance Audio Glasses to offer an exceptional wearer experience.
Can the glasses accommodate high-prescription lenses?
Yes, Nuance Audio glasses are designed to accommodate prescription lenses, including high-prescription lenses, and it does not affect the audio functionality.
How are the audio components integrated into the frame without affecting the comfort or long-term durability of the glasses?
All electronic components, including microphones, speakers, battery, and chipset, are discreetly embedded within the temples and front of the frame, ensuring a lightweight (under 40g), durable, and comfortable fit without compromising aesthetics. The product comes with a two-year warranty.
Nuance Audio was launched in the US recently. What kind of feedback have you been getting from there?
Nuance Audio was highly anticipated in the US and we’ve experienced very positive feedback from customers. We’ve generated significant orders from trade events. This early success gives us confidence in the future of the category and our ability to drive it.
When will Nuance Audio be available in the UK?
Nuance Audio will be piloted at selected opticians across the UK from May, with a full launch planned for the autumn.
Can you talk about the price point compared with other hearing solutions?
Nuance Audio glasses are around a quarter of the cost of an average traditional non-over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aid. There is also the option to turn them into a 2-in-1 solution as they are able to carry prescription lenses (at an additional cost). Hence, the total cost may be less than having to purchase prescription glasses and hearing aids separately.
