In Italy Nuance Audio Glasses, the smart glasses with integrated acoustic support

EssilorLuxottica opens a new frontier of wearables with the launch in Italy of Nuance Audio Glasses , already approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States and authorized for some time in the EU both in terms of the European Regulation on Medical Devices (MDR) and with respect to the ISO 13485 certification, the one related to the production and distribution of hearing aids. These are the smart glasses seen at the last two editions of CES in Las Vegas ( where we tried them ) that combine personalized vision correction and invisible hearing support , designed for adult users with mild to moderate hearing loss . The debut in the first quarter of the year marks a progressive expansion also in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.

A growing market between health and technology

The Italian-French company thus enters a rapidly evolving segment, dominated so far by companies like Meta with its Ray-Ban Meta , which however focus on the camera, artificial intelligence with Meta AI and voice assistant (and which are also the result of a collaboration between the Californian giant and EssilorLuxottica), or Google and Amazon, which have been attempting similar approaches for years now, to tell the truth, with mixed success. EssilorLuxottica's proposal instead aims for a functional fusion between medical technology and lifestyle , addressing what in many cases is still a taboo - that is, the complex ecosystem, as well as rich business, of hearing aids - with a refined and discreet aesthetic.

Medical device and integrated design

Classified as Class II A devices in Europe , Nuance Audio Glasses integrate directional microphones and air conduction speakers, offering natural listening without having to insert anything into the ear . The system is in fact completely incorporated into the frame, on which you can naturally apply standard ophthalmic lenses or Transitions photochromic lenses.

Enhanced listening in everyday contexts

The glasses are particularly useful in difficult contexts for those with hearing problems: just think of crowded restaurants, meetings in very large rooms or convivial group moments. The six asymmetrical directional microphones managed by a proprietary algorithm (based on a technology developed by the Israeli startup Nuance Hearing, which the group acquired a couple of years ago) allow voices to be isolated from background noise, improving comprehension and the sound experience. They are effective at least up to two meters away . All this, and obviously this is the other point, without sacrificing aesthetics: the frame is thin, light and similar to that of a normal pair of eyeglasses, a nod to the most famous Ray-Ban models.

Full control via app

Customization is not lacking. Through the Nuance Audio App, available for smartphones, the user can set the acoustic experience: from frontal or 360-degree modes to the choice of four amplification presets based on need, through fine control of the volume and the level of perceived ambient noise. The application also allows firmware updates to keep the device always optimized. Almost all of this can also be done with a remote control sold separately.

Accessibility and distribution

With a potential catchment area of ​​over 1.2 billion people worldwide affected by mild to moderate hearing loss , EssilorLuxottica aims to make the product as accessible as possible. In Italy, Nuance Audio Glasses are already available in over 5,000 points of sale, including the stores of the Salmoiraghi & Viganò and Grand Vision Italia chains, as well as in independent optical and audiology centers.

An all-out challenge in the world of wearables

In a sector where big tech is focusing on entertainment and augmented reality, EssilorLuxottica has therefore chosen a very specific positioning, in some ways similar to that shown by Apple for some features of the new AirPods (remaining only on the hearing side): wearable technology at the service of daily health . The result is a hybrid product – we will see many of them in circulation in the coming years – that redefines what smart eyewear can be, not just a gadget, but an invisible ally for living better.

The Nuance Audio Glasses are available in two designs. Each model comes in three different sizes – Square (size 54 and 56) and Panthos (size 48) – in two colors. Each package includes a foldable case with a cleaning cloth and a wireless charging base with an included USB-C cable. The price starts at 1,100 euros, to which you must add the cost of any ophthalmic lenses to be mounted. A significant amount, but considering the effectiveness of the glasses, it is considerably lower than the cost of purchasing good quality hearing aids.