ZEISS Medical Technology and Envision Health Technology are joining forces to advance glaucoma care with gamified virtual reality (VR).
The German medtech company specialises in visual field testing, while Envision’s expertise lies in software-driven visual function testing and VR technologies.
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By combining their respective know-how, the strategic collaboration aims to advance patient-centred technologies for modern glaucoma care, with the chief aim to strengthen the scientific and clinical credibility in VR-based visual function testing, the companies stated.
Visual field tests, or perimetry exams, are used to detect changes in peripheral vision. And catching the onset of glaucoma early, so a patient’s intraocular eye pressure (IOP) can be lowered sooner, is associated with improved vision retention for patients affected by the condition.
The companies did not immediately reveal how they will deploy the VR technology in visual function testing.
“As glaucoma care continues to evolve, clinicians are looking for solutions that improve patient accessibility, flexibility and experience without compromising clinical confidence. Our collaboration with Envision Health Technologies reflects ZEISS’s commitment to advancing practical, clinician-driven innovation that can help expand access to visual function testing across a range of care settings,” explained Anuj Kalra, head of chronic disease management at Zeiss.
Glaucoma affects around 80 million people worldwide. The second-leading cause of blindness, the condition is currently incurable. Common treatments to abate the condition include lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) to prevent irreversible damage to the optic nerve. The primary treatment modalities to achieve this include the daily prescription eye drops or, in more advanced cases, laser therapy or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).
The Gold Standard MIGS treatment for severe cases is trabeculectomy, in which a surgeon makes a tiny flap in the white part of the eye to allow fluid to drain, reducing IOP.
Commenting on the pair-up, Envision CEO Dr Lama Al-Aswad said: “We believe the future of visual function testing should be more accessible, flexible, and patient-centred while remaining grounded in clinical rigour.”
Across the broader healthcare space, VR is finding application in spinal and other surgical disciplines. In April 2026, Avatar Medical Vision gained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for Avatar Medical Vision. The company’s software is designed to convert CT and MR imaging data into spatial, multi-dimensional representations that can be viewed across standard operating room displays, glasses-free 3D systems, and VR environments.
