Last reviewed: November 2026. This guide is for general information and is not medical advice.
Virtual reality replaces what you see. Augmented reality adds to it. Mixed reality sits between the two, and extended reality is the umbrella term for all of them. In healthcare the difference matters because each suits different jobs: VR for therapy and training away from the bedside, AR for guidance while a clinician is looking at the patient.
In this guide
The four terms
- Virtual reality (VR) immerses the user in a separate, computer-generated world, usually through a headset that blocks out the room.
- Augmented reality (AR) keeps the real world in view and overlays virtual information on it, through glasses, a headset or a phone screen.
- Mixed reality (MR) is midway between the two: virtual objects appear in the real setting and interact with it.
- Extended reality (XR) is a collective term for AR, VR and MR, or technology that combines them.
These definitions follow a 2024 review in JMIR XR and Spatial Computing. In practice the lines blur. Many current headsets can do both VR and AR, and regulators often group them: the FDA discusses AR and VR together and uses “medical extended reality” for the field.
What each is used for
| Virtual reality | Augmented and mixed reality | |
|---|---|---|
| View of the real world | Replaced | Kept, with information added |
| Who typically wears it | Patient or trainee | Clinician |
| Typical uses | Pain, mental health, rehabilitation, training, patient preparation | Surgical navigation, viewing scans in 3D, remote guidance |
| Main practical limit | Motion sickness and isolation from the room | Lining up the virtual image accurately with the patient |
Neither is “better”. The FDA lists pain management, mental health, neurological disorders and pediatric care among the areas where these tools are used to treat patients, alongside planning and performing procedures. Which technology fits depends on whether the user needs to see the real world while using it.
How widely are they used?
One measure is regulatory clearance. The FDA’s public list of AR and VR medical devices held 104 entries after its December 2025 update, up from 39 in December 2022, according to an analysis by the consultancy Exponent. Nearly 90% were reviewed by the agency’s neurology or radiology panels. The FDA says the list is not comprehensive.
Clearance shows that products exist and meet regulatory requirements. It does not show how many hospitals use them, or how well they work for a given patient. That is what the individual guides below examine.
Which guide to read next
- Start here: virtual reality in healthcare and augmented reality in healthcare.
- For patients: pain management, mental health, rehabilitation, cancer care, older adults and patient education.
- For clinicians: surgery, medical imaging, medical training, emergency medicine and telemedicine.
- Cross-cutting issues: privacy, safety and ethics and AI with AR and VR.
Common questions
What is the difference between AR and VR?
Virtual reality replaces what you see with a computer-generated world, usually through a headset. Augmented reality keeps the real world in view and adds virtual information on top of it.
What is mixed reality?
Mixed reality sits between the two: virtual objects appear in the real setting and interact with it. Extended reality, or XR, is the umbrella term for AR, VR and mixed reality.
Is AR or VR better for healthcare?
Neither is better overall. VR suits therapy and training, where the user does not need to see the room. AR suits tasks such as surgical guidance, where a clinician needs to keep looking at the patient.
Sources
- Lake K, et al. Cybersecurity and Privacy Issues in Extended Reality Health Care Applications: Scoping Review. JMIR XR and Spatial Computing, 2024.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Medical Devices.
- Exponent. FDA expands AR/VR medical device list, February 2026.
