Austin, TX – March 23, 2026 VirtuaLens, the immersive VR IOL Patient Education system designed to help patients understand their intraocular lens (IOL) options before cataract surgery, today announced the launch of its Monovision Simulation feature, allowing surgeons to demonstrate the visual effects of monovision during the consultation process. The system also allows patients to experience other lens strategies, including monofocal, toric, EDOF, and multifocal lenses during the consultation.
Monovision has long been a valuable refractive strategy used in cataract and refractive surgery to help patients reduce dependence on glasses by optimizing one eye for distance vision and the other for near vision. While effective for many patients, explaining how monovision will feel after surgery has traditionally been challenging.
The new VirtuaLens feature allows surgeons to simulate monovision in virtual reality, giving patients the opportunity to experience how their vision may function before making their surgical decision. The overall device is designed to support cataract consultations by improving patient education, increasing confidence in lens decisions, and enhancing the consultation experience.
“Monovision can be difficult for patients to conceptualize during a consultation,” said John Branch, MD, CEO of VirtuaLens. Until now, there hasn’t been a practical way for patients to experience how monovision might feel before surgery. VirtuaLens solves this by allowing them to see the visual differences between eyes in an immersive environment.”
VirtuaLens delivers independent visual inputs to each eye, enabling surgeons to demonstrate the balance between distance and near vision while patients explore real-world environments. This allows patients to better understand how monovision may affect everyday activities such as reading, driving, and using digital devices.
“Patients have historically had to imagine their visual outcomes based on explanations alone,” said Douglas Koch, MD. “VirtuaLens changes that paradigm. This breakthrough technology allows patients to experience their vision before surgery, fundamentally transforming how we guide IOL selection.”
The Monovision Simulation feature is now available on all VirtuaLens Systems.
VirtuaLens at ASCRS
Experience the future of cataract education at Booth 506 during ASCRS in Washington, DC, April 10–13. Explore Monovision and step into immersive VR IOL simulation firsthand.
Join us for a speaker event on April 10 at 5:30 PM, where leading experts will discuss how VR patient education is transforming their practices.
Register at virtualens.health/vr-revolution
About VirtuaLens
VirtuaLens is an eye care medical technology company transforming how patients and surgeons select cataract lenses. Through its VR-powered platform and flagship Immersive IOL Simulator, VirtuaLens enables patients to experience and compare intraocular lenses (IOLs) in realistic, lifestyle-based environments before surgery.
This “try-on” experience brings IOL selection to life, helping patients better understand their options and make more confident, informed decisions. Designed for accessibility and scalability, VirtuaLens empowers practices of all sizes to deliver a more modern, engaging, and effective approach to cataract education.
Learn more at virtualens.health.
