Virtual reality in medicine: the application of VR innovations

According to Yevhen Kasyanenko, head and leading specialist at KISS Software:

“VR in medicine  is a practical solution, and it will only continue to develop in the future. Doctors learn from mistakes that do not harm real patients, and patients themselves receive treatment that reduces their stress and speeds up recovery.“

In this article, we have compiled the current needs that VR addresses in medicine. Let’s take a look at the present and future of medical innovation!

VR in surgery: accurate planning and safe operations

The undoubted benefits of VR technologies in training. Young doctors can practice performing operations in realistic conditions, see their actions and their consequences. And the patient will not pay for mistakes made during such an operation. Moreover, an experienced doctor can then view the recording literally through the eyes of the student. This makes mistakes and correct decisions much easier to see.

How does virtual reality in medicine help surgeons?

Even experienced surgeons find VR to be a useful tool—it helps them hone their skills, try new techniques, and prepare for complex operations without risk to the patient. CT and MRI scans are used to create three-dimensional models of internal organs. Doctors can now prepare for surgery in advance and plan everything.

Examples of VR implementation in surgery

Leading clinics around the world have already adopted virtual reality. The most well-known successful solutions are:

• Surgical Theater – similar to a simulator used by pilots to prepare for flights. Only here, neurosurgeons can practice operations on virtual models.
• Medtronic Mazor X is a complex system with a robotic arm and augmented reality. As in science fiction movies, the doctor performs the operation with the help of a robot and sees an accurate assessment of the situation on the operating table in real time.
• Microsoft HoloLens is a mixed reality system. During surgery, the surgeon can see right through the tissue without unnecessary incisions.

VR displays patient data in real time. Now the surgeon does not have to be distracted by monitors and sensors.

What are the advantages of VR?

The use of virtual reality in medicine generally improves the quality of surgery and medical training. Important factors:

• The ability to prepare for surgery in advance. Increases accuracy and reduces stress for the doctor.
• The risk of complications is reduced. The doctor is prepared in advance for the unexpected reactions of this particular patient’s body.
• Training becomes easier and more effective. Virtual reality provides a safe environment for practice.

VR training: the future of medical education

Virtual reality in medicine  is radically changing the process of training doctors.

“VR training is not just a technology, but an opportunity to go through dozens of situations without risking anyone’s health. This experience is really close to real practice, but it’s accessible and safe,” emphasizes Yevhen Kasyanenko:

Simulators for doctors and students

Instead of boring theory and pictures in textbooks, they can now study the human body and its treatment literally on 3D models.

Stanford has already launched the Stanford Virtual Heart project, which recreates an anatomically accurate heart with more than 20 congenital defects in VR. Students can literally look inside and understand how this complex mechanism works (and how it malfunctions).

Examples and facts

The effectiveness of VR training in medicine has been proven:

• Research in Annals of Surgery: skills learned in virtual reality are successfully transferred to real-life operations.
• Meta-analysis of 25 studies in IJERPH: students not only improve their skills, but also their level of satisfaction.
• A study in Harvard Business Review: VR helps doctors feel more confident and get into practice faster, especially in the early stages.

Why is VR training better than traditional training?

It’s all because of the interactivity and immersiveness. Here are some specific factors that make VR effective in medicine:

• Access to complex cases and operations. You can’t become a specialist without practice, but inexperienced doctors are rarely allowed to perform complex operations. Virtual reality solves this problem.
• The ability to repeat an exercise dozens of times until you get the hang of it.
• Stress reduction. Practicing all possible scenarios in virtual reality gives you a sense of confidence.

“The use of VR in medical education is only gaining momentum. Analysts predict, and we agree with them, that virtual reality will be used even more extensively in the future,” emphasizes our specialist.

Rehabilitation and treatment with VR

Not only do doctors perform better surgeries thanks to VR, but patients also show better results in rehabilitation.

Examples of VR rehabilitation

Clinics and rehabilitation centers are already using special VR trainers that help patients return to their normal lives step by step. They:

• Restore motor functions. They improve coordination and stimulate movement.
• Create a digital environment in which basic skills can be safely restored. Virtual reality uses the patient’s own reflexes.
• Improve the balance and motor skills of children with cerebral palsy, turning rehabilitation into an exciting game.

What are the advantages of VR rehabilitation?

Rehabilitation becomes interesting. It transforms from a tedious and often unpleasant process into an interactive and exciting activity:

• Tasks are gamified. Patients become more motivated, they can track their personal progress and receive virtual rewards
• Discomfort and fear of treatment are reduced by creating a comfortable environment.
• Therapy becomes adaptive. Each patient receives their own program.

“The essence of VR in medicine is that the brain is ‘tricked’ into perceiving the virtual world as real. This helps to control the natural recovery processes, making rehabilitation less painful and more effective,” explains Yevhen Kasyanenko.

Psychological rehabilitation: combating phobias, anxiety, and PTSD

In medicine, VR is also increasingly being used to combat psychological problems such as phobias, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress. Virtual reality creates a safe space where patients can gradually confront their fears and learn to cope with them without risk.

VR therapy in psychiatry

VR allows patients to come face to face with their fears. The programs realistically reproduce scenarios that would be impossible in real life. These scenarios become controllable and safe. Patients are confronted with triggers, but they are not left alone with their anxiety.

The programs are designed to help maintain control over the situation.

Real-life examples

Here are a few working cases of psychological training using VR:

• Psious VR Therapy uses virtual reality to treat phobias and anxiety disorders.
• Rewire.Education adapts to the daily lives of children with autism spectrum disorders.
• VR trainers for public speaking that anyone can use. They help overcome stage fright and improve communication skills.

There are many such examples, and innovative methods of applying virtual reality in psychology and psychiatry are constantly emerging. Their development is inevitable.

Why are VR methods so effective?

The high effectiveness of VR therapy in psychiatry can be explained by two main factors:

• Controllability. The patient can control the situation and knows that the session can be interrupted at any time.
• Safety. Everything takes place in a completely safe virtual environment—without direct confrontation with real triggers or dangers. At the same time, specialists can calmly observe and analyze the process without directly interfering.

Studies show that VR therapy effectively reduces anxiety levels and teaches patients to better cope with stressful situations.

The future of VR in medicine: what’s next?

Virtual reality already plays a major role in cutting-edge medical advances, but this is only the beginning. Analysts predict steady growth for the VR market.

The main areas of VR in healthcare

“By the beginning of 2025, the global virtual reality market was estimated at approximately $20.83 billion, and according to Fortune Business Insights, more than 25% of this amount is accounted for by medicine, primarily in the US, Europe, and Asia. This includes areas such as medical training, surgical simulations, diagnostics, and patient recovery,” notes Yevhen Kasyanenko.

By 2029, the VR market will grow even more—experts predict growth to $204 billion! And medicine will play one of the leading roles here. The following areas look particularly promising:

• Anesthesia. Virtual reality helps patients distract themselves and reduce pain if done correctly.
• Diagnostics. VR is used to create accurate models based on examinations, as well as to monitor vision and detect mental disorders early on.
• Gerontology. Socialization and cognitive training for older people without having to leave home or even move.

VR technologies in medicine make life much easier for doctors and patients. Treatment with virtual reality becomes more effective and comfortable for both parties.

Conclusion

Virtual reality is not just about the “wow” effect. Accuracy, control, and safety are particularly important in medicine, education, and rehabilitation.

The KISS Software team, led by Yevhen Kasyanenko, has been creating VR systems for several years. Our products are used in real clinics, universities, and rehabilitation centers.

If you are considering implementing VR, please contact us. We will demonstrate how technology can truly transform your practice, making it more flexible, efficient, and modern!