Haag-Streit announces “Slit Lamp Imaging Competition 2026” winners

The results are in! Haag-Streit UK is proud to announce the winners of the annual Haag-Streit “Slit Lamp Imaging Competition 2026”, celebrating outstanding slit lamp images and videos that combine clinical insight, technical excellence, and visual impact.

Image category

First place in the image category was awarded to Carmen Rodrigues, Augenklinik Luzerner Kantonsspital, Switzerland, for her image titled “PFC-Bubble and Tube”, captured on a Haag-Streit BX 900 slit lamp. The winning entry presents a striking image of a perfluorocarbon (PFC) droplet adjacent to an intraocular tube. It impressed the jury with its exceptional sharpness, technical precision, and compelling visual simplicity. Juror Jesús Conejero commented: “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.” Carmen receives a prize package valued at CHF 1,500 and will be featured in a leading ophthalmic journal.

Second place went to Utpal Sarkar, Disha Eye Hospitals, India, for “Floating iris cyst in aqueous humor.” The image stood out for its skillful use of illumination, exceptional clarity, and striking visual impact. Utpal receives a prize package valued at CHF 1,000.

Third place was awarded to Katie Lachut-Yevich, VCU Health, USA, for her image of a resorbed fibrous cataract. The image impressed the jury with its remarkable detail, striking visual structure, and presentation of a fascinating clinical finding. Katie receives a prize package valued at CHF 750.

Video category

The winner of the video category was Tony Thieu, Christiana Care, USA, with a video captured on the Haag-Streit Elara 900 slit lamp demonstrating keratic precipitates associated with anterior uveitis. Juror Cynthia VandenHoven commented, “This well-executed narrow-beam slit lamp examination effectively captures the characteristic distribution and morphology of keratic precipitates across the corneal endothelium. The smooth, steady technique and easy-to-follow sequence make this video a strong candidate for clinical teaching.” Tony receives a prize package valued at CHF 1,500.

Judging panel

The judging panel combined expertise from both ophthalmology and professional imaging and included: professional photographer Marc Curchod (Swiss Visio Lausanne), ophthalmologist Jesús Conejero (Hospital de Mérida, Spain), imaging specialist Cynthia VandenHoven (FOPS), and two Haag-Streit slit lamp imaging specialists, medical photographer and product expert Jacqui Kenyon and seasoned slit lamp imaging specialist Marcel Meyer.

A global celebration of slit lamp imaging

Now in its eighth year, the “Slit Lamp Imaging Competition” continues to highlight the exceptional clinical, educational, and artistic possibilities of slit lamp imaging. The 2026 edition attracted 311 entries from 25 countries, showcasing a remarkable range of ocular findings, imaging techniques, and levels of technical expertise. The judging panel evaluated all submissions based on image quality, technical execution, and disease interest.

In addition to the prize-winning entries, the following images were shortlisted (in non-ranked order):

• Carmen Rodrigues, Augenklinik Luzerner Kantonsspital, Switzerland: Grid-like corneal dystrophy

• Pratap Dey, Disha Eye Hospitals, India: Vitreous in anterior chamber, Dead Bag Syndrome

• Utpal Sarkar, Disha Eye Hospitals, India: Marfan Syndrome

• Davide Brambilla, Studio Contattologia Brambilla, Italy: An unusual dimple veiling in scleral lens fitting

• Pia Emilia Lohri, Augenklinik Luzerner Kantonsspital, Switzerland: Corneal graft decompensation

• Rob Hancock, Wirral University Teaching Hospitals, UK: Iris atrophy

• Katie Lachut-Yevich, VCU Health, USA: Iris trauma showing Zonules.

For more information, and to see the top three images, visit our “meet the winners” page. To download high-resolution images of all the top ten images, please visit our Wallpaper Collection page.