Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica focuses on smart glasses as Metaverse booms

Facebook and Ray-Ban's first smart glasses which launched on Sept 9, 2021 are seen in a handout image. — Ray-Ban and Facebook/Handout via Reuters

Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica SA said it aims to give glasses "superpowers” in its first strategy update since the death of charismatic Chairman Leonardo Del Vecchio in June.

The Italian company, which teamed up with Meta on smart glasses in 2020, plans to build "a gateway” to augmented reality and the metaverse by improving features such as those that allow people to make hands-free calls via WhatsApp and take photos, said Federico Buffa, head of its eyewear research and development.