Thanks to the support of the Good Friday Appeal, ophthalmologists at The Royal Children’s Hospital will soon have access to two additional digital retinal cameras – specialised RETCAMs – to detect serious eye conditions in newborns, infants and children.

These cameras are vital in the early detection of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a condition that can affect premature babies when the blood vessels on the surface of the retina do not develop properly. Without early diagnosis and treatment, ROP can cause permanent vision loss or blindness. With timely screening and imaging using RETCAMs, this condition is often entirely preventable.

The Royal Children’s Hospital relies on RETCAM technology to provide detailed digital images of the retina, helping ophthalmologists assess eye health quickly and accurately. In 2023, support from the Good Friday Appeal allowed the hospital to upgrade its first camera, improving care for vulnerable newborns.

Demand for this life-saving technology has grown rapidly. With only one camera previously available, multiple clinical teams often needed to share the equipment, which could create delays in time-critical assessments. The addition of two more RETCAMs will ensure that no child’s care is postponed because the camera is in use.

The new cameras will support the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, where the smallest and most vulnerable babies are at highest risk of developing ROP, and will strengthen services across the hospital, including the Emergency Department, ocular oncology, surgical care, forensic medicine and outpatient clinics. By integrating retinal imaging into routine assessments, clinicians can monitor eye health more efficiently and intervene as soon as damage is detected, often preventing irreversible vision loss.

With strategically located cameras available for rapid deployment, the RCH can provide faster, more reliable and resilient care. This investment safeguards the sight of some of Victoria’s most vulnerable children, giving premature babies the opportunity to grow, learn and experience the world with healthy vision.

Thanks to the Good Friday Appeal, every child at risk of ROP will now have a better chance of receiving urgent, sight-saving care exactly when it is needed most.