Practice Overview
Eye Gallery, located in Calgary, Alberta, provides comprehensive eye care for patients of all ages. The practice is led by Dr. Brady Turner, an optometrist and owner who has built the clinic around delivering high‑quality, patient‑centered care. Dr. Turner’s personal connection to vision care runs deep. He was born legally blind in his right eye and has always been passionate about helping people protect and improve their vision.
Today, Eye Gallery sees a wide range of patients, from infants to seniors, for routine eye exams, disease monitoring, and specialized testing for conditions such as glaucoma.
The Challenge: Replacing Traditional Visual Field Testing
Before adopting Carrot (formerly Virtual Field), Eye Gallery relied on traditional tabletop visual field technology commonly used in optometry practices. When the previous owner left the practice, the Humphrey visual field analyzer was also removed, forcing Dr. Turner to evaluate replacement options.
While the Humphrey system had long been considered the gold standard, it had several drawbacks, especially for smaller clinics. The large physical footprint, limited flexibility, and patient discomfort led Dr. Turner to explore alternatives.
“We have a very small practice here,” Dr. Turner says. “So the ability to have something with a small footprint that doesn’t take up a lot of space was very appealing.”
The Solution: Adopting Carrot’s Portable Visual Field Platform
After researching several visual field systems, Dr. Turner discovered Carrot’s virtual reality visual field platform. The device immediately stood out because of its portability, flexibility, and modern approach to testing.
The technology really appealed to me right away,” he says. “You can do the visual field in any room, and it doesn’t take up much space.”
Eye Gallery adopted Carrot in 2020.
“I was able to compare the results with patients who had previously used Humphrey,” Dr. Turner explains. “I saw that it offered the same level of care and reliability.”
Since implementing the platform, the clinic has had “no regrets” about the decision.
Results: Improved Workflow and Efficiency
One of the biggest advantages Carrot provides at Eye Gallery is the flexibility it offers in how and where tests can be conducted. Unlike traditional tabletop systems that require dedicated space and positioning, the Carrot headset allows testing in almost any environment.
“We can do the test in different rooms, depending on what works best,” says Dr. Turner. “If we’re running behind schedule, we can quickly perform the visual field in another exam room.”
This flexibility helps the clinic stay on time with appointments while keeping pre‑testing efficient.
“We use a quick screening option that only takes one or two minutes,” he adds. “It helps us keep our pre‑test schedule very efficient.”
The device’s portability even allows testing outside the clinic when necessary.
We actually had a patient where we went to their house and performed the visual field there,” Dr. Turner recalls. “That just shows how flexible the device is.”
Better Patient Comfort and Experience
Beyond workflow improvements, Carrot has significantly improved patient comfort during visual field testing.
Traditional dome‑style machines require patients to lean forward with their head fixed in place, which can be uncomfortable, especially for older adults. The VR headset approach offers a much more relaxed experience.
Patients can sit back comfortably while the headset runs the test, making the process easier and less intimidating.
“Patients can sit back and relax while wearing the device,” Dr. Turner says. “We can adjust it based on their needs to make it comfortable.”
The platform also supports multiple languages, which helps Eye Gallery serve Calgary’s diverse patient population.
“If a patient doesn’t speak fluent English, the device can explain the instructions in different languages,” he explains. “That makes the test much easier for them.”
Reliable Diagnostics and Clinical Confidence
For Dr. Turner, one of the most important factors in evaluating the platform was ensuring that diagnostic quality matched that of traditional systems.
The reports are very comparable to what you’d get from a Humphrey,” he says. “They’re easy to read, very similar in layout, and quick to interpret.”
The system also supports progression analysis, which is essential for monitoring chronic conditions like glaucoma.
“We often monitor patients at risk of glaucoma,” Dr. Turner explains. “Using tests like the 24‑2, we can track progression and make sure patients stay healthy over time.”
In one memorable case, Carrot helped identify a serious neurological condition.
A patient came in noticing changes in her vision but couldn’t describe them well,” Dr. Turner says. “The visual field showed a classic defect caused by a brain tumor, which allowed us to refer her for treatment quickly.”
A Smart Investment for the Practice
Like any practice owner, Dr. Turner carefully evaluates whether new technology will deliver a return on investment. For Eye Gallery, Carrot addressed all its needs.
Every optometry practice should have a visual field as part of the standard of care,” he says. “From a cost perspective, Carrot is very affordable.”
Unlike traditional equipment that can become obsolete after a few years, the Carrot platform receives continuous updates and support.
“I had confidence knowing I wasn’t going to get stuck with a very expensive piece of equipment that becomes outdated,” Dr. Turner explains.
Looking Ahead
For Dr. Turner and his team at Eye Gallery, Carrot has become an essential part of delivering efficient, patient‑focused eye care.
If he had one piece of advice for other optometrists considering the platform, it’s simple:
“Just try it,” he says. “Once you see how easy it is to use and how reliable it is, you’ll know it’s the right decision.”
When asked to summarize the impact of the platform, Dr. Turner puts it this way:
When I think of Carrot, I think of eye health and making sure we’re assessing our patients’ vision quickly and efficiently so they can stay healthy for life.”
