ESCRS 2026: Ultra-widefield imaging in paediatric eye care

Samantha Harding, MD, a consultant ophthalmologist with Barts Health NHS Trust in London, described ultra-widefield imaging with the Optos MonacoPro as transformative for her paediatric clinics. Harding, during an interview with Ophthalmology Times Europe at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) 2026 Congress in London, said many of the children she sees have dark irides that resist standard dilating drops, making the traditional dilation process a prolonged and often distressing one. With a non-mydriatic ultra-widefield camera, she said, clinicians can capture a full view of the retina, including autofluorescence imaging, without dilation in many cases. She said the approach improves clinic throughput and spares children the discomfort of drops, calling it a game changer for both patients and workflow.

A case that changed one child's care pathway

Harding described a specific case involving an 11-year-old boy with sickle cell disease who was poorly cooperative with dilation due to autism. Using ultra-widefield imaging, she said she was able to get a clear peripheral view of his retina for the first time, identifying positive sickle cell retinopathy signs that required a second opinion. Although the child ultimately did not need treatment, Harding said the imaging allowed the care team to act quickly on findings that would otherwise have gone undetected.

Beyond diagnostic value, Harding emphasized ease of use as essential to adopting new devices. She said all tiers of staff at her hospital are expected to use imaging machines, often with little formal training, so usability and staff comfort factor directly into safety. She said the Optos MonacoPro's simple, guided workflow meets that bar, allowing a full imaging process to be completed in about two minutes.