Ultrasonic patterns in vitreo-retinal disease

The reliability of diagnostic ultrasound in the assessment of vitreo-retinal disease was studied using an all-purpose ultrasonic machine. Five vitreous echo patterns are described, two representing retinal detachment, two demonstrating the features of vitreous membranes (condensation of vitreous tissue) and one typical of simple vitreous haemorrhage. Retinal detachment was correctly diagnosed in over 95% of cases and simple vitreous haemorrhage in 100% of cases. The diagnostic accuracy rate for vitreous membranes was 80–90%. The most frequent source of error arose in the differentiation of localised areas of retinal detachment from fixed dense sheets of preretinal (vitreous) tissue.