EN
Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist and founder of Applied Hearing Solutions in Phoenix Arizona, attends Vision Expo West in Las Vegas to see how far the EssilorLuxottica Eyeglass hearing aids have come!
In a groundbreaking merger of vision and hearing technology, EssilorLuxottica's Nuance Audio Division has developed what might be the most discreet and innovative hearing solution to date: over-the-counter eyeglass hearing aids designed specifically to enhance speech understanding in noisy environments.
The concept is ingeniously simple yet technologically sophisticated. By integrating directional microphone technology directly into stylish eyeglass frames, these devices help wearers distinguish speech from background noise—one of the most challenging aspects of hearing loss.
What's particularly revolutionary about this approach is how it addresses two sensory needs with a single, everyday accessory. For the millions of people who already wear glasses and also experience mild to moderate hearing difficulty, this integration eliminates the stigma and inconvenience of wearing separate hearing devices.
The key to these eyeglass hearing aids is their strategic microphone placement. With microphones built into both the front of the frame and the temples, the system can effectively isolate speech coming from the direction you're facing while filtering out surrounding noise.
According to Matteo Dondero, the Super Audio Program Manager at EssilorLuxottica, the hardware is remarkably lightweight at just 43 grams. The glasses feature:
What makes this system particularly effective is its ability to create a focused "listening cone" in front of the wearer, similar to how premium hearing aids use directional microphone technology to improve speech understanding in noise.
The journey from concept to near-market-ready product has been impressive. The most recent iteration showcased at Vision Expo West in Las Vegas demonstrates several key advancements:
What's particularly compelling about these eyeglass hearing aids is their performance in authentic listening situations. During testing at Vision Expo West, they were put through their paces in some of the most challenging acoustic environments:
The verdict? The technology delivered impressive results across these scenarios, particularly with the ability to customize settings through the app to adapt to different acoustic environments and speaker voices.
One of the most telling indicators of this technology's potential impact was the response from vision care professionals at the expo. According to observers, the EssilorLuxottica booth was among the most visited, with optometrists and opticians expressing surprise when learning that what appeared to be standard eyeglasses were actually sophisticated hearing devices.
This reaction highlights one of the product's greatest strengths: its complete visual integration with normal eyewear. Unlike traditional hearing aids or even more recent OTC hearing products, these devices are virtually indistinguishable from regular glasses, eliminating the stigma that prevents many people from addressing their hearing needs.
The target audience for these eyeglass hearing aids appears to be:
The fact that the system is being developed as an over-the-counter solution also means it will likely be more accessible and affordable than traditional prescription hearing aids, potentially reaching a much broader population of people with untreated hearing difficulties.
While no official release date has been announced, the rapid development timeline suggests that EssilorLuxottica is moving quickly toward market introduction. The company indicates that when available, both vision and hearing care professionals will be able to offer in-office demonstrations of the technology.
The final version will also address one of the few limitations noted during testing: the ability to incorporate prescription lenses. This will ensure that users receive both optimal vision and hearing correction in a single device.
What makes this development particularly significant is how it potentially transforms two separate healthcare fields. By bridging optometry and audiology, EssilorLuxottica is creating a new category of assistive technology that could change how we think about sensory enhancement.
For vision care professionals, it represents an opportunity to expand their services and address a common co-occurring condition among their patients. For hearing care providers, it offers a new intervention option that might reach patients who would otherwise never seek traditional hearing solutions.
This convergence of vision and hearing technology reflects a broader trend toward more integrated, lifestyle-oriented approaches to healthcare. Rather than treating sensory systems in isolation, we're seeing a move toward holistic solutions that address multiple needs while fitting seamlessly into everyday life.
The EssilorLuxottica eyeglass hearing aids represent more than just a clever combination of existing technologies—they signal a fundamental rethinking of how assistive devices can be designed to enhance quality of life without calling attention to the very conditions they're addressing.
As we await the official release of these innovative devices, one thing seems clear: the line between vision care and hearing care is becoming increasingly blurred, and consumers with sensory needs will likely be the beneficiaries of this creative convergence.
All right guys. Headed back to Las Vegas to meet up with the EssilorLuxottica Nuance audio team for their new over-the-counter eyeglass hearing aids. Check 'em out, see how far they've come. Let's go.
EssilorLuxottica's Nuance Audio Division has been working day and night on their OTC eyeglass hearing aid technology that is designed to help you hear better in noisy situations.
By using directional microphone technology built right into the frames of their glasses, they are able to help you separate speech from the person you are facing from the background noise that's surround you.
And they have come a long way since I tested their initial prototype in Milan, Italy, nearly a year ago. In fact, this is my third time checking out the progress of their eyeglass hearing aids because back in January of 2024, I met up with the Nuance Audio team in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show.
And it was impressive to see what they had done in the four short months since my trip to Italy. Now I'm back in Vegas for Vision Expo West to see how farther technology has come in the past eight months, and I could not be more excited.
This was my third trip to Las Vegas in the past nine months. All of them staying at the Venetian and super grateful that I was able to avoid food poisoning this time, which pretty much derailed my trip to CES back in January entering the registration area.
It felt eerily similar to any other expo, but being an audiologist and having attended dozens of hearing and technology expos, this is definitely my first time picking up a badge to attend an expo focused on vision. I am pretty sure that's a pun. Yeah, that's a pun.
As I walked up to the EssilorLuxottica booth, it was exciting to see all the interest around the combination of vision and hearing technology blurring the lines between vision, care and hearing care. And yes, that is another pun.
It had to be one of the most popular booths at the expo area during the time that I was there. And pretty cool to see so many vision care professionals taking an interest in this new eyeglass hearing aid technology with most of them being completely shocked that they were hearing aids because to everyone, they looked like typical eyeglasses.
Of course, I was even more interested in getting my hands on them myself to see the changes they made to the glasses and to their app. And I pretty much tested every capability of these devices, including their directional microphone mode and new omnidirectional microphone mode, along with different amounts of noise reduction and program presets for different mild to moderate hearing loss configurations.
I also got a chance to catch up with Davide D'Alena, the Global marketing Director for Nuance Audio at EssilorLuxottica, and Matteo Dondero, the super audio program manager at EssilorLuxottica to get an update on all the improvements they've made in their technology since the last time that we met.
The major update are related mainly to the software side, so kind of glasses. The hardware is gonna be the same of six months ago. So you know, total invisible, 43 grams microphone spread in the front and in the temple. Two directional speaker, and then the software inside, which is doing the job. We have been working last nine months, especially on update of framework, improved performance of the product, and especially on the new app. As you can see-
Here, the app is pretty simple. There is what we call on, on page, on screen where you can control basically the, all the basic functionalities or the core functionalities. The presets are in the core, in the center of the homepage with the four preset, A, B, C, D. That enables the customer, the patient to go through the different preset, depending by the environment or the needs in terms of hearing loss.
Yeah, I think that was an interesting thing when I was doing my demoing here in this really noisy environment, certain people's voices, I might do better with preset a. Other people's voices may be preset D, depending on how much noise there is, maybe switching to preset B or preset C. So it can be dependent on the individual with their level of hearing loss they had, which is how those were designed. But also just the perception, like if you perceive that you're getting better audibility and better hearing from one, you can easily switch into them. 'cause it's right on the home screen here. Thank you so much for sharing with us the app. I'm sure I'll be able to get more closeups on that for you guys and kind of walk you through it as I get a chance to review these here, hopefully in the near future. So, hey, thank you so much. Thank you for coming.
Yeah, but the true test was walking around the expo to hear how much of a difference they made in background noise while on the move, as well as during lunch in a noisy Italian restaurant.
And I know what you're thinking, yes, me and the Italians went to an Italian restaurant in Las Vegas, and all I have to say is I love these eyeglass hearing aids just as much as I did the last time I got to check them out.
But with the added app customizations, I had a much better ability to customize the sound based on my environment and noise levels.
The most noticeable improvement was the extended battery life, which gave us over eight hours of battery life with several hours to spare compared to the three hours of battery life on the initial prototype that I tested.
This really is something you need to experience for yourself, whether you have normal hearing or a mild to moderate hearing loss if you want to hear better in background noise.
So stay tuned because when available, your vision or hearing care professional will be able to give you an immersive experience inside of their office for you to hear them for yourself.
Really, my only two complaints were that these prototypes did not have my eyeglasses prescription in them, so my vision was a little off while I was testing them out, but the worst part of it is that I had to actually give the glasses back knowing that I'll have to wait just like everybody else before I can get a pair of them for myself so I can wear them all the time.
All right, guys, I hope you enjoyed the vlog. It was really cool to check and see how far they've come with their product. It was really great to meet with the EssilorLuxottica Nuance audio team as well.
Now, if you guys wanna learn more about these eyeglass hearing aids, make sure that you are subscribed to the channel with notifications turned on, because as soon as I am able to, I'm gonna do a detailed review of this product on the channel and it never hurts to give a thumbs up if you're up to it. So appreciate you guys. Thanks for hanging out with me, and I'll see you in the next one.
Four hearing aids offer specialized tinnitus management features beyond standard amplification for significant symptom improvement.
Read More
Four evidence-based tinnitus treatments help patients achieve habituation through different neurological and psychological approaches.
Read More
Starkey Edge AI offers neural network processing, exceptional battery life, and advanced connectivity with proper professional fitting.
Read More
Four budget-friendly hearing aids deliver core features when properly fitted by qualified hearing care professionals.
Read More
Dr. Cook highlights five premium hearing aids offering advanced AI, connectivity features, and improved speech clarity.
Read More
Comprehensive comparison of Oticon Intent and Starkey Edge AI hearing aids' features, performance, and technological differences.
Read More
Name-brand hearing aids, fit by a local hearing healthcare provider who follows Best Practices.
Best Practices ChecklistHearing Aid Buyer's Guide
