EssilorLuxottica unveils Nuance Audio™ Plus, the next generation of assistive listening glasses

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Nuance Audio

Sep 24, 2026, 12:00 ET

Enhanced audio experience, extended battery life and an expanded range of styles bring invisible listening assistance to more everyday moments.

TORONTO, Sept. 24, 2026 /CNW/ -- EssilorLuxottica announces the launch of Nuance Audio Plus, the next generation of its invisible, open-ear assistive listening glasses for adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. Building on the launch of the first Nuance Audio Glasses, the new product combines improved audio performance, extended battery life and an expanded eyewear collection in an assistive listening technology designed to support people naturally throughout everyday life.

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EssilorLuxottica unveils Nuance Audio Plus, the next generation of assistive listening glasses
EssilorLuxottica unveils Nuance Audio Plus, the next generation of assistive listening glasses

Hearing loss affects an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide, approximately 1.25 billion of whom live with mild to moderate hearing loss1. Yet close to 90% of this population has not adopted an assistive listening solution2. By seamlessly integrating assistive listening technology into everyday eyewear, EssilorLuxottica is helping address this significant unmet need through a solution that is virtually indistinguishable from a conventional pair of glasses. Nuance Audio Plus marks the latest step in the Group's continued investment in assistive listening innovation, expanding both the choice and performance available to consumers.

"The response to Nuance Audio Glasses has been extremely positive, confirming that consumers are looking for a more natural and desirable way to access listening assistance support," said Stefano Genco, Global Head of Nuance Audio. "In just one year, we have expanded to 14 countries and more than 18,000 stores, reaching consumers who are, on average, five years younger than traditional assistive listening solution customers, with two out of three having never explored traditional assistive listening aids. With Nuance Audio Plus, our new product generation, we are taking another important step toward making hearing support a natural part of everyday life."

Nuance Audio Plus is designed to support people affected by perceived mild to moderate hearing loss across a range of scenarios: from those experiencing the first signs of hearing loss, for example, beginning to notice changes in their listening effort over time across a range of everyday situations, even under similar noise conditions, to those already aware of their hearing impairment and seeking a discreet hearing solution. Across the various scenarios, the product helps users stay engaged in conversations through a solution that looks and feels like everyday eyewear.

Nuance Audio Plus is available from September 30th in Canada through authorized optical and listening assistance-care professionals, and online in selected countries. In Canada, the recommended retail price will start from $1,149, depending on the lens configuration.

About Nuance Audio Plus

Complementing the existing Nuance Audio Glasses collection, which will remain available, Nuance Audio Plus expands the portfolio with optimized hearing technology, more intuitive on-frame controls, a broader range of frame designs and colours, and new options for charging on the go. Together, the two collections offer consumers greater choice across design, technology features and price points, preferences and lifestyles.

Key features

  • Invisible assistive listening aid: Breaking the stigma with discreet, stylish glasses that seamlessly integrate vision and assistive listening support directly into the frame. Building on the distinctive open-ear technology of Nuance Audio Glasses, Nuance Audio Plus introduces further advancements in amplification, speech clarity in noise and own-voice perception, together with extended battery life of approximately ten hours under average product conditions3.
  • Directional amplification: Designed to enhance speech clarity through directional microphones and beamforming technology, helping users focus on the conversations in front of them.
  • Easy to use: Simple to set up and manage through the intuitive Nuance Audio App, Nuance Audio Plus also features new on-frame controls, including a dedicated power switch and volume buttons conveniently positioned on the temples.
  • Open-ear comfort: Lightweight, open-ear speakers integrated into the temples leave the ears free for long-lasting comfort. An expanded range of sizes, together with universal fitting and adjustable nose pads on selected styles, helps provide a secure and comfortable fit.
  • All-in-one solution: A product designed to address both vision and listening assistance needs in one elegant device.
  • Hands-free phone calls – Users can answer and manage voice calls directly from the frames when paired with a compatible iPhone4.

Styles and accessories

Nuance Audio Plus is available in three timeless frame styles – Square 53, Panthos 48 and Upturn 52 – and five colours, Shiny Black, Shiny Burgundy, Deep Blue, Amber and Olive Green.

The standard package includes a charging pad and USB-C cable to charge Nuance Audio Plus.

User experience

The glasses are easily manageable from the Nuance Audio App, and the glasses also feature on-frame controls for quick access to key functions, while a dedicated remote control is available separately.

With the app, users can control:

  • Audio modes: Switch between two audio modes: Frontal, to focus on face-to-face conversations, and All-around, to amplify all surrounding sounds.
  • Presets: Choose the pre-configured amplification settings (A, B, C or D) for a tailored hearing experience.
  • Background noise: Customize the background noise level with three levels of noise reduction. 
  • Volume level: Adjust the volume of amplification on a scale from 1 to 5.

Lenses

Nuance Audio Plus can be fitted with any type of optical lenses, according to the wearer's vision needs. The glasses can also be paired with Transitions® lenses, which adapt to changing light conditions to support an integrated hearing and vision experience throughout the day.

Useful links

About EssilorLuxottica

EssilorLuxottica is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of advanced vision care products, eyewear and med-tech solutions. The Group is home to the most innovative lens technologies, including Varilux, Stellest and Transitions, iconic brands such as Ray-Ban, Oakley and Supreme, top-selling smart eyewear products including Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta Vanguard and Nuance Audio, the most desired luxury licensed brands and world-class retailers including Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Vision Express and Apollo. With over 200,000 employees across 150 countries, 600 operations facilities, serving 300,000 eye care professionals and operating 18,000 stores, the Group generated consolidated revenue of Euro 28.5 billion in 2025. EssilorLuxottica trades on the Euronext Paris market and is included in the Euro Stoxx 50 and CAC 40 indices. Codes and symbols: ISIN: FR0000121667; Reuters: ESLX.PA; Bloomberg: EL:FP. www.essilorluxottica.com

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1 World Health Organization, World Report on Hearing, 2021, p. 40.

2 Stevens G, Flaxman S, Brunskill E, Mascarenhas M, Mathers CD, Finucane M; Global Burden of Disease Hearing Loss Expert Group. Global and regional hearing impairment prevalence: an analysis of 42 studies in 29 countries. Eur J Public Health. 2013 Feb;23(1):146-52. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckr176. Epub 2011 Dec 24. PMID: 22197756,.

3Based on average product condition.

4 The product, as an MFI certified device, supports voice calls only when used with an iPhone (requires iOS 16 or later)

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