Transforming early diagnosis and detection for children: New equipment at St George’s
29 April 2026
Moorfields Eye Charity is proud to have funded a piece of clinical equipment at Moorfields St George’s called the Optos Silverstone OCT, thanks to the support of our generous donors. This has transformed early-stage diagnosis and improved the way eye conditions are detected in patients from infancy through to teenage years.
The Silverstone OCT machine makes detailed images of the different layers inside the eye. The machine lets clinicians monitor conditions in the extreme peripheral retina, the very outer edge of the eye.
Some of these peripheral retinal conditions can affect eye development in babies. It allows clinicians to monitor extreme peripheral retinal conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity or retinal lesions/colobomas. The OCT machine can also detect conditions even when there are no symptoms present which is important for children who are unable to communicate what
their symptoms are.
Moorfields Eye Charity’s funding for equipment like the Optos OCT is crucial as it enables clinicians to access the latest innovative technology which benefits patients as well as research.
Elisabeth De Smit, paediatric ophthalmology, strabismus and cataract consultant at Moorfields St George’s
The process of having an eye examination to receiving the results is quicker than other OCT machines. There is an option for virtual review which means patients spend less time in hospital waiting to see a doctor, and this improves continuity of care as different clinicians can review the images. The OCT machine produces clear images that are great for education. Clinicians can use these images to train staff and to show parents and patients exactly what’s happening inside the eye.
There are several ways the OCT machine has improved patient care. Patients no longer need to have their eyes dilated before an eye test which makes it a quicker and less scary experience for children especially with neurodiversity and sensory processing difficulties who are reluctant to have the eye drops. The benefit of not having the dilatation requirement means school-aged children can go back to school the same day without blurred eyesight and it won’t affect their reading ability and learning.
The charity’s support is invaluable in helping us deliver high-quality, patient-centred care to children with complex retinal disease.
Gulunay Kiray, locum consultant in paediatric ophthalmology
Elisabeth shared a patient experience that stood out to her where a child with myopia, short sightedness, and peripheral retinal degeneration was recently brought to the clinic. The child did not have any symptoms, but after an examination on the OCT machine a retinal tear was detected. However, no peripheral vitreoretinal traction was identified. This confirmed that the child did not need laser surgery therefore preventing unnecessary anaesthetic and treatment.
In this case, the Optos OCT not only helped clinical decision making but also hugely impacted on the patient’s experience and clinical safety.
Elisabeth De Smit, paediatric ophthalmology, strabismus and cataract consultant at Moorfields St George’s
