MEMPHIS, Tenn. — If you’re someone who has low vision and is hard of hearing, you may want to listen up.

New technology has made its way to the Southern College of Optometry, and it comes in the form of eyeglass frames.

The Nuance Audio Eyeglasses aren’t your typical glasses. The frames have a built-in, open-ear design hearing aid.

“Once I do the basic walk-through with them, they’re like, ‘Wow this is actually a lot easier than I thought it was going to be,'” said Haley Dixon, Apprentice Optician with The Eye Center and Focal Point of Southern College of Optometry.

Dixon says the user can adjust the settings to reduce background noise and focus the audio on the object in front of them.

She says this is a more accessible option to hearing aids for those experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss.

“One of the biggest challenges that I’ve seen with patients with hearing aids is having to fit glasses over their ears with the hearing aids. So, kind of giving that two in one can give you a little more comfortability, as well,” said Dixon.

This comes just a few months after the college started offering the Ray-Ban Meta frames to patients.

While those frames are known for being able to take pictures, calls, and videos, Dixon says the college has been using the AI technology to assist low-vision patients.

“If you’re holding a $10 bill, you can say, ‘Hey Meta, look and tell me what I’m holding.’ It’ll tell you what you’re holding. It can give you a synopsis of something that you’re holding that you’re trying to read,” she said.

Dixon says these glasses are going to assist them in helping thousands of people in the Mid-South who have low vision and are hearing impaired better navigate their surroundings.

“It really just depends on the patient’s needs, but especially for a good, affordable, low-vision option, it’s been really great for our patients,” said Dixon.

The college says the Ray-Ban Metas are currently available for patients. The Nuances will be rolled out next month.