Application of ultrasound biomicroscopy in diagnosis of anterior segment vitreoretinal disorders

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM) in anterior segment vitreoretinal disorders(ASVD).

Methods: 60 eyes of 58 sequential patients were examined with UBM. The ultrasound biomicroscopic images were compared with the results of clinic examination, B-scan ultrasonography and the finding during surgery to evaluate the reliability of UBM for ASVD.

Results: UBM allows structural details of the conjunctiva, rectus muscle, sclera, uvea, retina and vitreous to be visualized at microscopic resolution in living eye. The area of UBM may cover from cornea to vitreous base, partially to the equator of eye. A variety of the changes of ASVD were imaged in 60 eyes, including retinal detachment in 43 eyes, retinal circumferential contraction in 29 eyes, retinal anterior displacement in 24 eyes, vitreous opacities or fibrosis in 57 eyes, ciliary orchoroidal detachment in 26 eyes, ciliary nonpigmented epithelial detachment in 6 eyes, proliferative tissue at the sclerotomy site in 9 eyes, retinal neoplasm in 2 eyes, ciliary cyst in 6 eyes, proliferation of peripheral silicone oil in 8 eyes, silicone oil emulsification in 7 eyes and vitreous foreign body in 2 eyes, respectively.

Conclusions: Our studies showed the feasibility of UBM for ASVD not visible by current techniques UBM can be used for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and the instructive treatments of ASVD.