AR and VR in healthcare
What works, what doesn’t, and what the evidence says
Plain-language guides to augmented and virtual reality in patient care, rehabilitation, mental health and clinical training. Every claim is linked to its source.
Featured guide
Virtual reality in healthcare: where it works
Pain, stroke rehabilitation, anxiety disorders and surgical training, with the trials behind each and the limits stated plainly.
104
AR and VR medical devices on the FDA’s public list by early 2026, up from 39 at the end of 2022.
190
Randomized trials of VR in stroke rehabilitation pooled in the 2025 Cochrane review.
30
Randomized trials of VR exposure therapy for anxiety disorders in a 2019 meta-analysis. See the sources.
Explore by use
Where AR and VR are being used
Pain management
VR as distraction during procedures and as home therapy for chronic pain.
Rehabilitation
Regaining movement and balance after stroke and injury.
Mental health
Exposure therapy for phobias, anxiety and PTSD.
Surgery
AR guidance in the operating room and VR for planning.
Clinical training
Simulation for students, residents and practicing clinicians.
Medical imaging
Viewing scans in three dimensions and overlaying them on the patient.
Latest
Recent articles
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AR vs VR vs Mixed Reality in Healthcare: What Is the Difference?
Plain definitions of augmented, virtual, mixed and extended reality, what each is used for in healthcare, and which of our…
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AI with AR and VR in Healthcare: What Is Real So Far
Where artificial intelligence meets augmented and virtual reality in healthcare, which uses are still research-stage, and the privacy questions it…
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Privacy, Safety and Ethics of AR and VR in Healthcare
The main risks of augmented and virtual reality in healthcare: data privacy, physical side effects, vulnerable groups and unequal access.
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Virtual Reality in Emergency Medicine: What the Evidence Says
How virtual and augmented reality are used to train emergency teams and support them remotely, and what the research does…
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Augmented and Virtual Reality in Telemedicine: What the Evidence Says
How augmented and virtual reality are used for remote guidance and home-based therapy, what studies show so far, and what…
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Virtual and Augmented Reality in Patient Education: What the Evidence Says
How virtual and augmented reality are used to prepare patients for surgery and explain procedures, and what trials show about…
How we work
Evidence first
Sources are cited
Guides link to the studies, reviews and regulatory records they rely on.
Limits are stated
Where research is early, small or mixed, we say so.
Not medical advice
Our content is general information. More about how we work.