Key Takeaways
- Haag-Streit's 2026 Slit Lamp Imaging Competition attracted 311 entries from 25 countries, with submissions evaluated for image quality, technical execution and disease interest
- Carmen Rodrigues earned first place in the image category for “PFC-Bubble and Tube,” depicting a perfluorocarbon droplet adjacent to an intraocular tube.
- Tony Thieu won the video category for a slit lamp examination demonstrating keratic precipitates associated with anterior uveitis
Haag-Streit announced the winners of its 2026 Slit Lamp Imaging Competition, recognizing ophthalmic professionals for clinical images and video demonstrating technical skill and the diagnostic and educational potential of slit lamp imaging.
Now in its eighth year, the international competition attracted 311 entries from 25 countries. Submissions were evaluated on image quality, technical execution and disease interest.
Image category
Carmen Rodrigues of Augenklinik Luzerner Kantonsspital in Switzerland earned first place in the image category for “PFC-Bubble and Tube,” captured using a Haag-Streit BX 900 slit lamp. The image depicts a perfluorocarbon (PFC) droplet adjacent to an intraocular tube. According to Haag-Streit, judges highlighted the entry's sharpness, technical precision and visual simplicity.
“The sharpness and exceptional definition of the image, combined with a carefully executed lighting technique, create a powerful visual impact that captures and holds the viewer’s attention,” juror Jesús Conejero said in the announcement.
Mr. Rodrigues will receive a prize package valued at CHF 1,500, and the winning image will be featured in an ophthalmic journal.
Second place went to Utpal Sarkar of Disha Eye Hospitals in India for “Floating iris cyst in aqueous humor.” Judges cited the image's illumination, clarity and visual impact. Mr. Sarkar will receive a prize package valued at CHF 1,000.
Katie Lachut-Yevich of VCU Health in the United States earned third place for an image of a resorbed fibrous cataract. The judges highlighted the image's detail and visual structure as well as the clinical finding it depicts. Ms. Lachut-Yevich will receive a prize package valued at CHF 750.
Video category
Tony Thieu of Christiana Care in the United States won the video category for a slit lamp examination demonstrating keratic precipitates associated with anterior uveitis. The video was captured using a Haag-Streit Elara 900 slit lamp.
Juror Cynthia VandenHoven highlighted the video's potential as a clinical teaching resource.
“This well-executed narrow-beam slit lamp examination effectively captures the characteristic distribution and morphology of keratic precipitates across the corneal endothelium,” Ms. VandenHoven said. “The smooth, steady technique and easy-to-follow sequence make this video a strong candidate for clinical teaching.”
Thieu will receive a prize package valued at CHF 1,500.
International panel evaluates entries
The 2026 judging panel brought together expertise in ophthalmology, medical imaging and professional photography.
Judges included professional photographer Marc Curchod of Swiss Visio Lausanne; ophthalmologist Jesús Conejero of Hospital de Mérida in Spain; imaging specialist Cynthia VandenHoven; and Haag-Streit slit lamp imaging specialists Jacqui Kenyon, a medical photographer and product expert, and Marcel Meyer.
In addition to the winners, Haag-Streit recognized 7 shortlisted images in no ranked order. They included Rodrigues' image of grid-like corneal dystrophy; Pratap Dey's image of vitreous in the anterior chamber in Dead Bag Syndrome; Sarkar's image of Marfan syndrome; Davide Brambilla's image of an unusual dimple veiling during scleral lens fitting; Pia Emilia Lohri's image of corneal graft decompensation; Rob Hancock's image of iris atrophy; and Lachut-Yevich's image of iris trauma showing zonules.
The annual competition is intended to showcase the clinical, educational and artistic applications of slit lamp photography and video while highlighting imaging techniques and a broad range of ocular findings.
