EssilorLuxottica, the holding company behind eyewear brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Foster Grant, showcased its latest innovation at CES 2025–the Nuance Audio hearing glasses. These glasses sport six built-in microphones and are officially cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be classified as over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. The hearing glasses, which also support prescription eye lenses, will be available to purchase in the US beginning in Q1 of 2025, according to EssilorLuxottica.
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Nuance Audio’s FDA approval means US consumers looking for a stylish and discreet way to treat their mild to moderate hearing loss can try their hand with the hearing glasses. I tested the Nuance Audio glasses at CES 2025 and was impressed by their performance in an abnormally noisy convention hall.
Additionally, the Nuance Audio hearing glasses are designed to promote easy use for older or less tech-savvy users who don’t want to consult an app on their phone to use the glasses. With EssilorLuxottica’s experience in the eyewear industry, the Nuance Audio glasses offer six stylish frames in two colors, Burgundy and Black.
According to the EssilorLuxottica press release, the Nuance Audio glasses aim to break down barriers in the hearing solutions market, such as stigma, discomfort, cost, and limited accessibility. The company promises to leverage its existing retail network to make Nuance Audio accessible to customers.
The holding company owns major retail brands LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Target Optical, and Sunglass Hut, allowing consumers to access hearing glasses at multiple retailers. Users can buy the Nuance Audio glasses at participating retail stores and have their correct lenses inserted, making these glasses a hearing and vision improvement solution in one pair. The company’s global scale also allows for product availability across the US and Europe beginning this year.
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The Nuance Audio hearing glasses are not intended for use by people who require prescription hearing aids. However, almost 30 million Americans experience mild to moderate hearing loss and choose not to treat it due to the stigma of wearing hearing aids.
“We’re pleased now to turn our focus to getting this life-changing technology into the hands of people around the world who truly need it,” said Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica.
The Nuance Audio glasses had to pass many benchmarks to be declared an OTC hearing aid in the US. Some requirements included that they must not require any surgical intervention, be intended for use by people 18 and older, and include software, tools, or tests for users to adjust the device to their hearing needs. The Nuance Audio companion app is the wearer’s hub for audio mode customization, including features that dictate the microphones’ direction, volume, and intensity.
