Evaluation of Vitreo-Retinal Pathologies Using B-Scan Ultrasound

Purpose:: To determine the diagnostic use of B-Scan in the detection of vitreoretinal pathologies in patients with vitreous opacities. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Isra University & Hospital, Hyderabad, Sindh, from Jan 2008 to Dec 2008. In this study evaluation of over a period of 1 year, 73 eyes of 68 patients with vitreous opacities and poor retinal visualization were investigated with B-Scan ultrasound. Patients were selected from the Retina clinic of the Department of Ophthalmology. The B-Scan machine used was US Scan- 3300 (NIDEK). Results: Out of 73 scans performed, 48 eyes had vitreous hemorrhage, 22 eyes showed inflammation in vitreous and 3 eyes had asteroid hyalosis. Posterior segment pathologies detected in eyes with vitreous hemorrhage were rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, tractional retinal detachment, peripheral retinal tear, posterior vitreous detachment, intra-ocular tumor, intra-ocular foreign body, disciform macular lesion & traumatic scleral rupture. In patients with intraocular inflammation, the diagnoses made were endophthalmitis, dropped nucleus and expulsive choroidal hemorrhage. Conclusion: B-scan ultrasound is very useful diagnostic tool in detection and evaluation of vitreo-retinal pathologies in patients with opacities in the vitreous cavity.