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Lecture 6 (4)

The document discusses ocular ultrasound, an imaging technique using high-frequency sound waves to visualize the retina and surrounding structures. It details the principles, applications, and types of ultrasound in ophthalmology, specifically A-scan and B-scan, highlighting their uses in diagnosing conditions like retinal detachment and measuring eye length for cataract surgery. The document emphasizes the advantages of ultrasound in providing real-time information and imaging structures obscured by dense materials.

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11 views

Lecture 6 (4)

The document discusses ocular ultrasound, an imaging technique using high-frequency sound waves to visualize the retina and surrounding structures. It details the principles, applications, and types of ultrasound in ophthalmology, specifically A-scan and B-scan, highlighting their uses in diagnosing conditions like retinal detachment and measuring eye length for cataract surgery. The document emphasizes the advantages of ultrasound in providing real-time information and imaging structures obscured by dense materials.

Uploaded by

mohammed.ibrahim.max
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Optical instruments

Lecture 6

Diagnostic ultra sound

M.Sc Ali Hadi Alhussaini

ocular ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves


that can be used in its place of light to create an image of the retina and the
surrounding structures.

principles
The principles of ocular ultrasound are the same as other applications of this
technology. Sound waves are generated at a frequency greater than 20,000 Hz (20
kHz) and reflected back to the transducer by tissue in its path. When the sound wave
returns, a piezo-electric crystal in the transducer vibrates, resulting in electrical
impulses that are translated into an image or other data

Application of ultrasound in ophthalmology


The benefits of ultrasound include improved imagining of structures hidden by
impervious materials, such as dense cataracts or vitreous hemorrhage. Second, real
time information is available to the doctor regarding conditions such as retinal
detachment

Types of ultrasound used in ophthalmologic practice currently,


A-Scan and B-scan

B-scan
is another method used for ocular assessment via ultrasound. It can be performed
directly on the anesthetized eye. In cases of trauma or in children, B-scan can be
performed over the eyelid with coupling jelly. Measurements derived from B-scan
include visualization of the lesion, including anatomic location, shape, borders, and
size. It can be used for a detection of a wide-range of pathological structures,
including retinal or choroidal detachment, foreign bodies, calcium, and tumors .
Echoes in B-scan are converted to dots with brightness intensity that is proportional
to the echo amplitude. For example, high amplitude echoes appear as hyperechoic
(white), and absent echoes appear black (anechoic). It is especially useful in imaging
of tumors of the anterior orbit, myositis with associated extraocular muscle tendon
thickening, and visualization of the superior ophthalmic vein in carotid cavernous
fistulas .

Ultrasound b-scan exam being performed on a patient .


Higher frequency waves penetrate less into tissue but have better resolution. In
contrast, lower frequency waves penetrate more deeply but have worse resolution.
Ultrasound waves, like other waves, have predictive behaviors based on properties
of the medium they travel through. For instance, sound waves have higher velocity
when traveling through solids than through liquids . When sound waves travel
between tissue interfaces with different acoustic impedance, or densities, they can
either scatter, reflect, or refract. Some sound is absorbed by tissue as well. Sound
waves that return to the transducer are called echoes, and ultrasound imaging zones
can be hyperechoic, hypoechoic, or anechoic. Shadowing can occur distal to a very
dense lesion, resulting in an anechoic region.

A-Scan
is one method used for ocular assessment via ultrasound.

Ultrasound A-scan exam being performed on a patient


In A-scan, a single sound beam is sent from the transducer . Echoes that return to
the transducer are converted into a series of spikes with height proportional to the
strength of the echo . The strength of the echo depends on several factors. The first
is the properties of the two tissues at an interface. If the interfaces are very
different, the echo will be of higher amplitude resulting in a taller spike. If the
interfaces are similar, the spike will be short. Spike height is also impacted by the
angle of the sound wave hitting the interface. When the transducer is held such that
the angle of incidence is higher, some echoes will not return to the transducer. As a
result, the spike height is lower.

A-Scan UES
1- This eye ultrasound gives details about the length of the eye.
2- It is a one-dimensional scan of the eye.
3- The measurement of the axial length of the eye through an A-scan is
necessary for placing intraocular lens (IOL, artificial lens) during a cataract
surgery.
4- It may also be used to assess vision abnormalities of the eye and other
diseases involving the eye such as tumors.

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