14 October 2025
EssilorLuxottica celebrated the launch of Nuance Audio in a special event held at the immersive venue, Frameless, London, on 25 September.
Nuance Audio integrates a discreet hearing solution into a pair of glasses for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
The event featured a panel discussion in which optometrists and audiologists described their introduction to the Nuance Audio glasses and how these had been received by patients and practice teams.
Musician and actor, Martin Kemp, a brand ambassador for Nuance Audio, also shared his personal experience of the technology. A jazz bar experience enabled attendees to try the glasses in a real-life setting.
Alan Pitcher, commercial director for wholesale at EssilorLuxottica, said: “This innovation blends cutting-edge audio software engineering, world-class smart eyewear design, and user-friendly technology to deliver an enhanced audio-visual experience; which for many people should eliminate the stigma often associated with hearing aids, allowing them to confidently benefit from hearing enhancement for the first time.”
Easing into hearing solutions
Stefano Genco, head of Nuance Audio, illustrated the numbers of people affected by hearing loss.
Around the world, 1.6 billion people are affected by some form of hearing loss, and the World Health Organization has also warned that nearly 2.5 billion people will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050.
Nuance Audio highlighted that 1.25 billion people worldwide experience perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. This might present as struggling to hear conversation in a busy business meeting, restaurant, or family gathering.
For many who identify a hearing issue, there can be a gap of many years before they commit to a hearing solution such as a traditional hearing aid. Reasons behind this can include financial, comfort, and social factors such as perceived stigma around hearing aids.
The Nuance Audio is an open-ear solution, with microphones embedded around the temples and front of the glasses frame.
Two modalities offer wearers the ability to toggle between enhancing the sound around them or focusing on one direction – useful for a conversation. The device can be controlled via an app or a remote control.
Combining fashionable eyewear with an invisible hearing solution
EssilorLuxottica demonstrated the Nuance Audio glasses at 100% Optical
Introducing Nuance Audio to practice
Directors from the Chepstow-based practice, The Optical People, also joined the panel discussion to share their experiences of introducing the Nuance Audio to the practice team and patients.
Lynne Evans, dispensing optician, shared that after seeing Nuance Audio at 100% Optical 2025, she invited an account manager to demonstrate the technology to members of the practice team in a local coffee shop.
A member of the practice team who wears hearing aids tried the Nuance Audio and described it as “like magic,” Evans shared.
“As soon as we got that feedback we decided we wanted Nuance Audio in our practice. The day we got it in, the staff were that excited about it they did their first dispense to a patient,” she said.
Jaclyn Pugh, independent prescribing optometrist, added: “We did not anticipate how enthusiastic and heart-felt people would be about the product. We mentioned it to everybody and the response has been overwhelming.”
“It has made problem solving for vision and hearing a positive and fun experience for people,” she said.
All 17 members of staff in the practice received EssilorLuxottica training on Nuance Audio, and the discussion can form any part of the patient journey, Pugh said, adding: “You can’t tell if somebody needs it or not. We wanted to be able to capture the right audience.”
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to join the discussion. Log in