Augmented Reality Applications in Healthcare: Easing Patients' Anxiety

Back in 2014, physicians at the Hospital Perpetuo Socorro, working in conjunciton with the University of Las Palmas Gran Canaria and software development company Droiders, used the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset to calm a patient during a medical procedure. The patient, who was undergoing arthroscopy on her knee, opted for local anesthesia augmented by a calming virtual environment enabled by the Oculus Rift, as opposed to general anesthesia.   

[image courtesy of ACFI Press, Droiders, and Hospital Perpetuo Socorro]