Nuance Audio Glasses U.S. Launch: OTC Hearing Aids Hidden in Stylish Eyewear

In a spirited launch event at HERO nightclub inside Rockefeller Center, EssilorLuxottica officially introduced its Nuance Audio Glasses to the U.S. market. Hosted by Nuance Audio’s Global Head Stefano Genco and YouTube tech vlogger iJustine (Justine Ezarik), the April 8 event highlighted a breakthrough in wearable hearing technology: sleek, everyday glasses integrated with an open-ear, invisible OTC hearing aid. Designed for people with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss, the Nuance Audio Glasses represent the first FDA-cleared, preset software-as-a-medical-device (SaMD) for hearing glasses in the United States.

"Nuance is a real breakthrough," Genco told the audience while poking fun at his Italian heritage and enthusiasm ("I'll try not to wave my hands when I talk”). "We've eliminated the barriers that kept many people from using hearing aids—like stigma, cost, and visibility. With Nuance, you're wearing stylish glasses that just happen to enhance your hearing, too."

An avid fan of live concerts, Ezarik reflected on her own gradual hearing difficulties and also described her grandmother’s struggle with hearing loss and reluctance to acquire hearing aids. Her grandmother, who is very socially active, started to withdraw from conversations and activities until she finally purchased hearing aids and became herself again. She praised Nuance for offering a new and easier way to get hearing help earlier via a stylish, discreet alternative—letting wearers hear better without the social barriers of traditional hearing aids.

Nuance Audio Glasses, priced at approximately $1,100 in the U.S., are about one-quarter of the average cost of traditional prescription hearing aids ($4,600) and are in line with mid-to-premium OTC hearing aids. They are now available at major optical retailers, including LensCrafters, Target Optical, Pearle Vision, and select independent practices. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, the glasses could help an estimated 73 million Americans with mild-to-moderate hearing loss, as well as those whose hearing appears normal on a test but who still face real challenges in noisy environments.

Invisible Hearing Aids in Plain Sight

Genco emphasized that Nuance is designed for people with mild to moderate hearing challenges—those who often "get by" but struggle in noisy environments like family gatherings. “People with mild to moderate hearing loss are the ones who are asking you to repeat, or maybe the ones who are saying a particular restaurant is too noisy for them—but they can survive and they are not necessarily in a bubble. So, for them, it's super important to have an invisible solution, like a pair of hearing glasses.”

Nuance delivers sound through tiny speakers embedded discreetly in the temples of the glasses, directing audio straight toward the ears without disturbing others nearby. This leaves the ears free to hear the natural 360-degree sound environment while receiving a boost in the frequencies needed most (typically higher pitches). Beamforming microphones, spaced across the frame and on the side temples, help zero in on speech while minimizing background noise.

Prescription Lenses, App Controls, and More

Nuance Audio Glasses can be fitted with custom prescription lenses, including Transitions light-adaptive lenses for indoor-outdoor use. Insurance reimbursement is often available since the glasses qualify as both a medical device and prescription eyewear.

Users control their hearing glasses via onboard buttons, an optional remote control, or the Nuance Audio App. The app offers simple, intuitive adjustments—including volume, noise reduction levels, and four preset audio profiles. Two listening modes are available: a Frontal Mode for direct conversations and a 360° Mode for greater environmental awareness.

“You don’t need to know what type of hearing loss you have, but instead you can try the A, B, C, or D presets until you find the one that works best for you,” noted Genco.

The glasses received FDA clearance on January 31, 2025, and shipments to U.S. retailers began immediately thereafter. The company has also earned CE certification for Europe and ISO approval as a medical device manufacturer.

Expanding Hearing Access Across the World and Professional Disciplines

Genco highlighted EssilorLuxottica’s global reach, noting the company’s €26.5 billion (US$30B) in annual revenues and its network of 18,000 stores worldwide. With roughly half of its business in the U.S., the market is a major priority for Nuance Audio.

Following its U.S. debut, the glasses will roll out across select European markets, including Italy, France, Germany, and the UK by mid-2025, with plans to reach more than 8,000 retail locations between North America and Europe. Expansion to Australia, Japan, and other regions is also planned.

“For the first time in our history, we are distributing our product—in this case Nuance Audio Glasses—not just in our retail network but also in independent optical and the audiological industry,” said Genco. “So we are signing agreements with the big companies there, as well as the small independents, now in the US, Italy, France, and the others will come. This is because we believed since the beginning that our innovation has something for everyone, not just for the vision industry.”

Future Roadmap: AI, Sensors, and In-Glass Hearing Tests

EssilorLuxottica began its foray into the audiological world in 2022 with the purchase of Nuance Hearing, a company with advanced acoustic beamforming and speech enhancement software designed to improve speech comprehension in noisy environments. More recently, it acquired Pulse Audio, a French startup that also made hearing glasses with AI-powered audio algorithms.

Looking ahead, Genco teased plans to expand the Nuance lineup with new models, colors, and advanced features. Future iterations of Nuance Audio Glasses may include posture sensors and the onboard capability to conduct hearing tests directly through the glasses, making them “self-fit” hearing aids that can be more finely tuned for unique hearing loss profiles and audiograms.

"So the idea is really to connect people and allow everything to come into the glasses,” he said. “In one of the future releases, there will be the possibility to handle calls through the glasses. And the product's development is something that, of course, is a journey, and our team is working very hard to make it better every step of the way.”

Significant New Player in Hearing Healthcare

The addition of EssilorLuxottica as a competitor in hearing healthcare could be a game-changer. Compared to many MedTech markets, the hearing industry is relatively small and, for the last 30+ years, has been dominated by five global manufacturers (Phonak, ReSound, Signia/Widex, Starkey, and Oticon). These “Big-5” companies are responsible for well over 85% of all the hearing aids sold, with their devices dispensed primarily through independent professional clinics and offices, as well as the Big 5’s own distribution networks (e.g., Beltone, HearingLife, and Audigy) that rarely exceed 1,500 locations in the United States. While many of these companies make OTC hearing aids, they have not been as successful as some initially expected.

EssilorLuxottica is among the world’s 500 largest companies, with revenues much larger than those of the Big-5 companies and a comparatively huge distribution network. By mid-year, the company plans to have Nuance Audio Glasses in 8,000 retail stores worldwide, with the long-term potential to reach 300,000 stores in the wholesale optical industry. This would significantly improve OTC hearing aid accessibility.

Beyond that, the glasses themselves present advanced hearing technology in a form factor that is unlike anything else offered in hearing care.

A Step Toward Destigmatizing Hearing Loss

Nuance Audio Glasses work well, as reported by my earlier experience with them at the 2025 CES Show, previous reviews from HearingTracker Audiologists Abram Bailey and Matthew Allsop, and video reviews from other respected colleagues.

The launch of Nuance Audio Glasses signals EssilorLuxottica's deeper commitment to the MedTech space. It may ultimately be a disruptive force in the hearing healthcare market. For consumers, it’s a promising step toward normalizing hearing assistance as part of everyday life rather than a separate medical device typically considered only in late adulthood.

In the buzz of the HERO nightclub, where guests put the glasses to the test, Genco’s optimism rang true: Nuance Audio Glasses represent a significant leap forward in stylish, everyday accessibility for a combined hearing and vision care solution.