Peer-Reviewed Multi-Center Study Links GreenMan's InSightVR to Greater Cataract Patient Understanding, Advanced-Technology IOL Selection and Expectation Alignment

Patients using InSightVR selected advanced-technology IOLs at nearly twice the rate of patients receiving standard education; 90% of surveyed patients said postoperative vision closely resembled the simulation and 90% would recommend the experience

GreenMan Vision, Inc. today announced the publication of a peer-reviewed, multi-center 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, non-randomized, multi-center 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 five ophthalmology centers across the United States. Of the 609 patients, 289 received education using InSightVR and 320 received standard verbal counseling from providers.

Key findings included:

• 57.1% of patients educated with InSightVR selected an ATIOL, compared with 28.4% of patients who received standard education (165 of 289 versus 91 of 320; p<0.001).
• 88% of VR-group respondents said the simulation improved their understanding of differences among IOL options; another 10% said it helped somewhat.
• 83.6% of VR-group patients described the headset as easy or very easy to use.
• At approximately three 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.
• 90% of surveyed patients in the VR group said they would recommend the VR educational experience to friends or family undergoing cataract surgery.

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.

“Cataract patients are asked to make a lasting decision about their vision based largely on concepts that can be difficult to explain with words or brochures alone,” said Matt Larson, Chief Executive Officer of GreenMan. “To our knowledge, this is the first peer-reviewed study to demonstrate an association between the use of a specific software-based visual education platform and significantly higher patient selection of advanced-technology IOLs. More importantly, the findings reinforce the value of helping patients experience these visual differences before surgery. For practices using InSightVR, that can mean more consistent education, more focused conversations and patients who feel better informed and more confident in the lens choice that best fits their goals.”

The study also points to potential workflow benefits for ophthalmology practices: helping patients better understand their options without adding another lengthy step to the surgeon consultation. The InSightVR experience typically required five 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 most meaningful finding is not simply that more patients selected an advanced-technology lens; it is that patients appeared to better understand the choices and tradeoffs involved,” said Michael Greenwood, MD, study co-author, cataract surgeon and Co-Founder, GreenMan. “For cataract practices, a standardized visual experience can support the entire care team and help patients participate more actively in shared decision-making.”

The authors 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.

“The fact that nine in 10 surveyed patients said their postoperative vision resembled the simulation is especially encouraging,” said Brandon Baartman, MD, Co-Founder, GreenMan. “Helping patients understand their options and align their expectations before surgery can support both strong clinical outcomes and a better overall patient experience.”

Because the analysis was retrospective and non-randomized, the results demonstrate an association and do not establish that VR education caused the observed differences. The authors noted potential selection, recall and non-response 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.

Even with these limitations, the findings point to the potential for a more visual, personalized approach to cataract education—one that helps patients better understand their options, set more informed expectations and participate more confidently in decisions about their vision. By making differences between IOL options something patients can experience rather than simply have explained to them, InSightVR offers a new way to support more informed, preference-aligned conversations between patients and their care teams.

The full peer-reviewed article is available at https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S602152.

GreenMan will exhibit at the 2026 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) at booth #4142, where the team will provide demonstrations of InSightVR.

About GreenMan

GreenMan Vision, Inc. is an ophthalmic technology company dedicated to improving cataract patient education and shared decision-making. Its InSightVR platform uses immersive virtual reality and patient-specific biometry to simulate potential visual experiences with monofocal, toric, multifocal, extended-depth-of-focus and adjustable IOL options before surgery. By independently controlling the simulation for each eye, InSightVR can also demonstrate monovision strategies based on different focal targets. By helping patients understand the benefits and tradeoffs of available approaches, InSightVR is designed to support more informed decisions, realistic expectations and productive cataract consultations. To learn more, visit www.greenmanvr.com.

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