Virtual Field Rebrands as Carrot, Vying for New Standard in Eye Care

BROOKLYN, NY – March 11, 2026 – The company that pioneered virtual visual field testing has undergone a significant transformation, rebranding from Virtual Field to Carrot. The move signals a strategic pivot from a single-focus product to a comprehensive visual diagnostics platform, aiming to set a new standard for modern eye care practices. The company will officially debut its new identity and expanded offerings at Vision Expo East in Orlando this week.

Redefining the Diagnostic Experience

For decades, visual field testing—a cornerstone for diagnosing and managing diseases like glaucoma—has been synonymous with large, stationary machines that require patients to remain in a fixed, often uncomfortable position. Carrot is challenging this paradigm by leveraging portable, software-driven virtual reality (VR) technology.

"For decades, diagnostic technology in eye care has focused primarily on accuracy," said Jeremy Barlow, CEO of Carrot, in a statement. "Clinical precision should be a given in any diagnostic solution. But today's practices need much more, including automation, workflow efficiency, seamless integration, and a better patient experience alongside reliable diagnostics. Carrot was built to deliver all of that in a single platform."

Carrot's platform replaces the traditional chin rest and intimidating apparatus with a lightweight VR headset. Independent research and user feedback suggest this approach significantly improves the patient experience. Studies have shown that patients often prefer VR-based testing due to increased comfort and reduced anxiety. The immersive nature of the headset minimizes external distractions, which can lead to better patient focus and more reliable test results. This is a critical factor, as patient fatigue and poor cooperation are common challenges with conventional perimetry.

Beyond patient comfort, the platform is engineered for speed and efficiency. By automating workflows and utilizing advanced algorithms, Carrot's system can reduce exam times, allowing clinics to increase patient throughput. Some high-volume practices have reported a 20% increase in testing capacity by integrating the technology. The portability of the headsets also means testing can occur in any exam room, freeing up dedicated space and offering practices unprecedented flexibility.

Navigating a Competitive Diagnostic Landscape

Carrot enters a crowded and competitive market long dominated by industry giants like Zeiss, with its ubiquitous Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA), and other key players such as Heidelberg Engineering and Topcon. These companies have set the benchmark for clinical accuracy, and the HFA remains a gold standard in many clinical settings.

However, Carrot is not attempting to compete on accuracy alone. Instead, its strategy hinges on delivering a holistic solution that addresses the operational pain points of modern eye care practices. While Virtual Field started with a single test, the Carrot platform now boasts 18 distinct diagnostic protocols, covering everything from perimetry and ocular motility to pupillometry and color vision.

"Virtual Field was the name that reflected where we started," explained Sarah Kersting-Herbert, VP of Marketing at Carrot. "But over the past several years, we've built something much more powerful than just visual fields. Carrot reflects our vision for a complete visual diagnostics platform."

A key differentiator is the platform's deep integration capabilities. Carrot is designed to connect seamlessly with over 100 Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. Its DICOM 360 Sync feature automates the entire data pipeline, pulling patient worklists and instantly pushing completed reports back into the patient's record. This eliminates manual data entry, reduces administrative errors, and streamlines the entire diagnostic workflow—a significant advantage for busy clinics struggling with administrative burdens.

Riding the Wave of Industry Transformation

The company's rebrand and expansion are timed to capitalize on powerful trends reshaping the eye care industry. The global ophthalmic diagnostic devices market is on a steady growth trajectory, with some market analyses projecting it will reach over USD 4.3 billion by 2032. This growth is fueled by an aging global population and a corresponding rise in chronic eye conditions like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Furthermore, there is a significant industry-wide shift toward portable, software-driven solutions. The demand for teleophthalmology and remote diagnostics has accelerated, highlighting the limitations of clinic-bound equipment. Carrot's portable, scalable platform is well-positioned to meet this demand, enabling providers to standardize care across multiple locations, from independent practices to large enterprise health systems. The company already supports over 2,400 providers and has delivered more than 5 million exams.

"Our customers are looking for smarter, more efficient diagnostic solutions that fit seamlessly into how modern practices operate, and Carrot is built to meet that need," Barlow added.

Honoring Its Technological Roots

While the name is new, the company's leadership emphasizes that the core technology that powered Virtual Field remains its foundation. The initial goal was to prove that visual diagnostics could be reimagined using modern software and hardware.

"When we first created Virtual Field, the goal was to rethink how visual field testing could work if it were built from the ground up using modern technology," said Carl Block, Co-Founder and VP of Engineering at Carrot. "That idea became the foundation for everything we've built since."

Clinical studies have largely validated this approach. Independent research comparing VR-based perimetry to conventional devices like the Octopus 900 has shown high correlations in diagnostic measurements, confirming that the technology provides clinically reliable results for detecting and managing visual field loss. While some studies note minor differences in defect measurement, the consensus is that VR perimetry offers a dependable alternative that solves many practical challenges of traditional testing.

With the rebrand to Carrot, the company aims to apply this same philosophy of modernization to a wider array of diagnostics. "With Carrot, we're building on that foundation to automate much of the diagnostic workflow, helping practices save time, increase testing capacity, and deliver better diagnostic insights for their patients," Block concluded. The official launch at Vision Expo East, complete with live demonstrations and a celebratory juice bar, marks the next chapter in this ongoing evolution.