Diagnostic Ocular Ultrasound

When bleeding or cloudiness blocks our view of your retina, ultrasound can still show if your retina has pulled away from the eye wall or has tears. Finding these problems quickly means we can fix them with surgery before you lose more vision.

This test finds where bleeding is coming from inside your eye and how much bleeding there is. Even when blood blocks our normal exam, ultrasound helps us decide on the right treatment to stop the bleeding and protect your vision.

Our specialists use ultrasound to find, measure, and watch tumors or growths inside the eye, including thickness and base size for treatment planning. This gives us important information to guide care and follow response to treatments like plaque radiotherapy over time.

After eye injuries, ultrasound can help assess internal damage, lens position, and possible foreign bodies; if a globe rupture is suspected, we avoid any pressure on the eye, shield it, and may choose non-contact imaging such as CT first, or perform ultrasound only with extreme caution by a specialist. CT is usually the first-line test to evaluate suspected intraocular foreign bodies, especially metallic, with ultrasound reserved when CT is inconclusive or after primary repair.

Ultrasound helps detect fluid or blood under the choroid, shows the extent and location, and guides timing of treatment when needed. This is especially valuable when the view is hazy after surgery or trauma.

In posterior scleritis, ultrasound can show thickened eye coats and the classic “T-sign,” aiding diagnosis when the view is limited. It can also identify optic nerve head drusen when other imaging is unclear.

We also use ultrasound for:

• Checking healing after eye surgery and looking for leftover bleeding or scar tissue
• Watching eye inflammation like uveitis and its complications
• Checking for thickening of eye parts in different diseases
• Following up on diabetic retinopathy complications
• Monitoring treatment progress over time, including intraocular tumors after radiotherapy

Yes, the test is considered very safe and uses no ionizing radiation; it is suitable for children and during pregnancy. Rare side effects include brief irritation from gel or numbing drops, and if a serious injury like a suspected open globe is present, we avoid any pressure on the eye and may use non-contact imaging first. The procedure is generally painless. A soft device is placed over your closed eyelid with gentle pressure, and most patients find it very comfortable; an anesthetic drop may be used if an open-eye view is needed.

Good candidates for ocular ultrasound include:

• Patients with possible retinal tears or detachments
• People with diabetic eye disease changes or bleeding
• Individuals with cataracts or conditions that block direct eye views
• Anyone with unexplained vision loss or symptoms after trauma
• Patients needing follow-up after eye surgery

Your retina specialist will decide how often you need follow-up ultrasounds based on your specific condition and treatment plan. Regular checking helps track disease changes and how well treatments are working, ranging from weeks to months or longer.

Generally, patients can drive after the ultrasound itself unless eye drops to make pupils bigger or other procedures are done at the same time. Your doctor will advise based on your visit plan and whether dilation is performed.

This test should not cause claustrophobia since you sit normally in a chair with your eyes closed. If you have anxiety about medical procedures, let our staff know and we will take extra time to explain everything and help you feel comfortable.