GreenMan Vision, Inc. announced in a press release the publication of a peer-reviewed, multicenter study evaluating InSightVR, a patient-specific VR platform that helps cataract patients experience simulated vision with different intraocular lens (IOL) options before cataract surgery. The retrospective, nonrandomized analysis of 609 patients found that use of InSightVR was associated with greater selection of advanced-technology IOLs (ATIOLs), improved patient understanding, and high levels of postoperative expectation alignment and satisfaction.
The study, "Patient Satisfaction With a Virtual Reality Education Tool for Advanced Technology Intraocular Lenses: A Retrospective Multi-center Analysis," was published in Patient Preference and Adherence. It included patients evaluated for cataract surgery at 5 ophthalmology centers across the United States. Of the 609 patients, 289 received education using InSightVR and 320 received standard verbal counseling from providers.
Among the key findings from the study, 57.1% of patients educated with InSightVR selected an ATIOL, compared with 28.4% of patients who received standard education (165 of 289 vs 91 of 320; P<.001). In addition, 88% of VR-group respondents said the simulation improved their understanding of differences among IOL options; another 10% said it helped somewhat. The findings also showed that 83.6% of VR-group patients described the headset as easy or very easy to use. At approximately 3 months after surgery, 90% of surveyed VR-educated patients who chose ATIOLs reported that their real-world vision was similar to what they had seen in the simulation. The study also showed that 90% of surveyed patients in the VR group said they would recommend the VR educational experience to friends or family undergoing cataract surgery.
According to the company, the InSightVR experience typically required 5 to 10 minutes and could be facilitated by a trained technician during dilation time. Although consultation time was not formally measured, the authors reported anecdotal feedback that patients entered subsequent surgeon conversations with clearer preferences and more specific questions, helping make counseling more focused and efficient.
The authors also emphasized that the purpose of VR education is to support informed, preference-aligned decision-making rather than to promote a particular lens. Some patients who ultimately selected a monofocal IOL reported that the simulation gave them confidence that it was the right option for their individual needs.
Because the analysis was retrospective and nonrandomized, the results demonstrate an association and do not establish that VR education caused the observed differences. The authors noted potential selection, recall and nonresponse bias, variation among centers, and the availability of postoperative survey data for a subset of the study population. They recommended prospective randomized research incorporating knowledge assessments, consultation-time measurements, and longer-term patient-reported outcomes. However, even with these limitations, the company said the findings point to the potential for a more visual, personalized approach to cataract education.
According to GreenMan Vision, InSightVR uses patient-specific biometry and immersive, real-world scenarios to help patients visualize potential postoperative vision with monofocal, toric, multifocal, extended-depth-of-focus, and adjustable IOL options. The platform can also simulate monovision by independently controlling the visual experience in each eye, allowing patients to preview how different focal targets may work together. Patients can explore everyday activities such as reading and driving in bright and dim lighting while seeing simulated differences in near, intermediate, and distance vision, as well as visual phenomena such as glare and halos.