Key Takeaways

  • Carrot has announced an agreement to acquire GreenMan Vision, bringing InSightVR IOL simulation technology into its existing VR diagnostic platform

  • A retrospective study of 609 patients reported advanced-technology IOL selection rates of 57.1% with InSightVR compared with 28.4% with standard counseling.

Carrot, formerly known as Virtual Field, has announced an agreement to acquire GreenMan Vision, developer of the InSightVR IOL simulation technology. The acquisition will expand Carrot's virtual reality (VR) diagnostic platform into vision simulation, providing cataract surgeons with a tool to help patients evaluate IOL options before surgery.

The addition of InSightVR will allow Carrot to extend its capabilities beyond visual testing and diagnostics to support patient education and decision-making during cataract surgery consultations.

“For years, Carrot has shown doctors how their patients see. Soon, we’ll be able to show patients how they could see,” said Jeremy Barlow, CEO of Carrot, in a company news release. “The best decisions in eye care are the ones patients can see for themselves.”

Carrot's VR-based visual testing platform is currently used in more than 2,500 clinics, including independent practices and larger ophthalmology and optometry networks, according to the company. The platform incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning-derived analysis and automation to streamline visual testing, reduce technician workload, and improve the patient examination experience.

With the acquisition of GreenMan Vision, Carrot plans to introduce IOL simulation capabilities that allow patients to experience potential visual outcomes associated with different lens technologies.

InSightVR was developed by cataract surgeons Michael Greenwood, MD, and Brandon Baartman, MD, of Vance Thompson Vision, to address challenges associated with counseling patients about IOL selection.

The technology uses individual patient biometry to simulate visual experiences across everyday activities, including reading and night driving. Patients can compare potential differences among major IOL categories, including tradeoffs involving spectacle dependence, glare, and halos.

“We built InSightVR for our own patients, and we held it to one standard: it could never overpromise an outcome,” Dr. Greenwood said in the release.

The company cited findings from a 2026 retrospective study involving 609 patients, published in Patient Preference and Adherence, that evaluated IOL selection among patients who received InSightVR simulation compared with those who underwent standard counseling. According to the study results reported in the release, 57.1% of patients who used InSightVR selected an advanced-technology IOL, compared with 28.4% of patients who received standard counseling.

Additionally, 90% of surveyed patients who selected advanced-technology lenses reported that their postoperative vision was similar to the preoperative simulation.

The retrospective findings suggest that immersive visualization may influence patient preferences during IOL selection. However, the study design does not establish that simulation alone caused the difference in lens selection.

The acquisition is expected to expand access to InSightVR through Carrot's existing network of ophthalmology and optometry practices. According to the companies, existing InSightVR customers will continue working with the same support team and receiving hands-on training as the technology transitions to the Carrot Platform.

“Our customers will keep the same InSightVR team and the hands-on training and support they rely on,” said Matt Larson, CEO of GreenMan Vision, in the release. “What will change is scale. With Carrot, InSightVR will get in front of more surgeons and more patients than we could ever reach alone.”

Carrot indicated that integrating diagnostic testing and IOL simulation into a single platform could support care across the patient journey, from initial vision assessments and optometric referrals through cataract surgery consultations.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed in the announcement.

Technology to be showcased at AAO 2026

Carrot plans to demonstrate its platform and IOL simulation capabilities during the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2026 Annual Meeting exhibition in New Orleans, October 10–12, 2026.

Attendees can view demonstrations at Carrot booth #2409 and the GreenMan InSightVR booth #4142.