THE ROLE Of ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN EVALUATION OF THE VITREO-RETINAL INTERFACE IN PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY

Abstract

The evaluation of the posterior vitreoretinal interface is important in the study of the natural course and preoperative evaluation of numerous disorders of the retina especially PDR. The contact B-scan ultrasound provided an extremely rccurate n1ethod for evaluating the posterior vitreoretinal interface when compared with all conventional clinical means of examination.

In ophth::llmology, it is of increasing importance to assess intra­ ocular pathology prior to vitreoretinal surgery by means of A- and B-scan ultrasound. Even fot the experienced examiner with advanced instrumentation, maJor problems can arise as • to whether retinal detachment has developed or not. This task involves the ability for acoustical differentiation of thin tissue membranes.

Ultrasonography is also useful for. monitoring progression of the disease and in pre-vitrectomy evaluations to determine the timing of surgery, the optimal placemei1t of instruments, and the visual prognosis. The aim of this work is to study the role of diagnostic ophthalmic ultrasonography in the evaluation of the vitreo-retinal interface in diabetic

patients suffering from proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

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