Mark Perry, OD:
Why the VF2000 Line of
Portable Visual Fields Is
a Part of His Practice’s Future
Meet Dr. Mark Perry, OD
When it comes to his practice, Vision Health Institute in Orlando, Dr. Mark Perry told us that providing a high-tech experience for his patients is important: “I’m always trying to upgrade my practice to be the most tech savvy in the Orlando area.”
This definitely applies to the way he performs visual field testing. While the HFA continues to be relied upon to provide excellent results, it’s bulky, uncomfortable, hard to clean, and needs a dedicated room to use. These factors limit practice efficiency and patient flow for most practitioners, and Dr. Perry is no exception.
When he discovered the VF2000 line of wearable visual field testing devices offered by David Keith at a conference in Orlando, it didn’t take long before he purchased one. He selected the VF2000 NEO, a premium upgrade of the market leading VF2000 Focus that adds an array of additional vision screening features to the device’s already reliable VF testing capabilities.
What Does Dr. Perry Like Most About the VF2000 NEO?
The VF2000 line is known for providing comparable accuracy to the HFA in a way that’s portable and easy to use anywhere in the practice. It does so using cutting-edge virtual reality technology, something Dr. Perry told us the potential of which had always impressed him.
He emphasized the versatility that makes the VF2000 NEO so valuable for him: “Multiple types of tests that can be done on this one instrument is great. I want to reduce the number of pieces of equipment that I have now — reduce our footprint while increasing the quality.”
How do his patients respond to the change? Dr. Perry said the VF2000 has definitely made an impression: “Patients we’ve used it on so far really love it.”
The wearable design of the VF2000 devices makes them a more comfortable option for a wider range of patients. Patients with sore necks or back problems are particularly pleased and may perform tests more reliably when not distracted by the discomfort of leaning forward with their chin in a cup for several minutes.
And, to anyone concerned about having to learn to interpret a new type of report, he tells his colleagues not to worry about the VF2000: “One of the more important things for me was the print-out report. It is very similar to the Humphrey.”
Why the NEO Goes Above and Beyond
When we asked Dr. Perry why he chose the NEO over the other VF2000 models, he said, the number of additional tests that can be run — not many devices do the number of different things that this one does.”
Here’s what he was referring to:
Unmatched Visual Field Testing Efficiency
It goes without saying that any time you’re bringing a new instrument into your practice, it has to do the basic things well. Dr. Perry told us that when it comes to efficiency, the VF2000 cannot be beat: “You can bring the headset into the room with the patient which saves tech time. It saves having to use an additional room — the convenience is one of the biggest selling points.”
It’s accurate, reliable, and equipped with the full range of VF tests practitioners need. It even has the Estermann test, which older patients often need to renew their driver’s license in Florida!
Why the NEO Goes Above and Beyond
When we asked Dr. Perry, why he chose the NEO over the other VF2000 models, he said, “ease of use, the number of additional tests that can be run — not many devices do the number of different things that this one does.”
Here’s what he was referring to:
Unmatched Visual Field Testing Efficiency
It goes without saying that any time you’re bringing a new instrument into your practice, it has to do the basic things well. Dr. Perry told us that when it comes to efficiency, the VF2000 cannot be beat: “You can bring the headset into the room with the patient which saves tech time. It saves having to use an additional room — the convenience is one of the biggest selling points.”
It’s accurate, reliable, and equipped with the full range of VF tests practitioners need. It even has the Estermann test, which older patients often need to renew their driver’s license in Florida!
New Vision Screenings Offered in the NEO
Dr. Perry said that while repeatable visual field testing is essential, “vision screenings are different, because you have a limited amount of time.” Essentially, if you’re going to offer additional vision testing, you have to be able to do it quickly and reliably.
The VF2000 NEO offers a range of vision screenings, including stereopsis, contrast sensitivity, color testing, and visual acuity — these potential additions to the exam allow Dr. Perry to get more information about a patient’s vision in less time, and differentiates him from the average eye doctor.
He told us that with some of these additional tests, “not a lot of ODs have that capability,” so the VF2000 adds versatility to his practice that few other tools can.
The VF2000 NEO is a premium tool that adds eye tracking and bilateral fixation as well, which Dr. Perry said are “a huge win” for his practice. Bilateral fixation is an exclusive innovation from the VF2000 team, providing a fixation point for the fellow eye when the eye being tested cannot fixate properly! Dr. Perry revealed that he has some patients who have NEVER had a reliable test because of this, and can now rest easier because their doctor has the information he needs to evaluate their condition.
Summarizing the Value of the VF2000
When Dr. Perry recalled the reasons why he decided to upgrade his practice with the VF2000 NEO — the combination of reliability and the range of testing options made the decision easy. He also said that the support offered — both by my team and the manufacturer — made a big difference:
“When you compare apples to apples, the VF2000 has the best reliability and the best people standing behind it — that’s the reason why I purchased it.”