Sensory play equipment enhances care at Moorfields Eye Centre in Croydon
16 October 2024 (last updated 6 October 2025)
Moorfields Eye Centre at Croydon University Hospital has a new sensory trolley which is helping to ease anxiety for young patients, especially those with special educational needs.
The mobile Sensory Voyager Hurricane Trolley has sensory lights and movements, and a number of games that children can play using their hands or feet on a floor projection, from finding dinosaur fossils to scoring a winning goal!
While the Croydon site already had a dedicated playroom staffed by a play specialist, the new equipment fills a crucial gap for the 20% of their patients who are neurodivergent and have previously struggled to interact with traditional toys.
The equipment is helping reduce stress and anxiety, which is often experienced by children attending their appointments, and providing play opportunities for all. It can also be moved from room to room to support children wherever they are.
The trolley was sponsored by Moorfields Eye Charity, thanks to our generous donors, and has had a huge impact since being introduced last year.
Kirsten Addison is a play leader at Croydon University Hospital who supports children attending eye appointments.
She explained how challenging it can be for children during eye tests, when the lights are dimmed.
The second you go into optometry or paediatrics, the rooms become dark, and a lot of children are afraid,
Kirsten Addison, play specialist at Croydon
The sensory trolley provides gentle light, sound and texture to create a soothing atmosphere.
Before, we used tiny torches and handheld toys. This is so much better.”
Kirsten
Some procedures require eye drops that make children’s eyes sensitive to light.
Once they’ve had the eye drops they don’t want to open their eyes. The trolley helps with encouraging them to open their eyes and to say what they can see.
Kirsten
Erica, an outpatient clinic coordinator at the hospital, has seen the difference it’s made for her younger brother, who is a patient at Moorfields.
He used to be shy and wouldn’t let them look in his eyes. Now, when they dangle the lights, he focuses, and that’s when they can assess him. It’s really helped him to not panic.
Erica
For some children, appointments are now shorter, calmer, and even something to look forward to
“You’re not just keeping them entertained. You’re keeping their wellbeing and emotions happy.”
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