How to interpret ophthalmic ultrasound: 5 most common scans

Uses for ophthalmic ultrasound

There are a few different types of ultrasound that can be performed on the eye. The “A scan” is performed by placing an ultrasound transducer directly on the cornea or using an immersion shell after some numbing drops are applied. It performs a single line scan which can be used to measure axial length or numerically compare the reflectivity of different structures. The “B scan” is usually performed by placing the transducer on the patient’s closed eyelid. It creates the typical 2D image that you associate with ultrasound. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is performed with a much higher frequency than the A and B scans and is primarily used to evaluate the anterior chamber angle and ciliary body.

Here is a summary of what the different ultrasound scans are used for:

1. B scan: Used for evaluating the retina, retinal detachments, vitreous choroidal masses, tumors, and nevi.
2. A scan: Used for ultrasound biometry (e.g. calculating axial length).
3. Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM): Used for evaluating the iridocorneal angle and ciliary body.

Basics of B scan

We’re going to focus on B scan in this article. Here are the key concepts you need to know to understand B scan ultrasound for the eye.

Scan orientations

First, for the purposes of ophthalmic ultrasound, the posterior of the eye is centered on the optic nerve, not the fovea.

There are 3 scan orientations.

1. Axial: The probe is placed in the visual axis. A horizontal axial view would show the optic nerve and macula. 
2. Longitudinal: The probe is placed on the eye with the plane of the ultrasound beam facing towards the pupil. The ultrasound images will show the retinal periphery to the posterior pole.
3. Transverse: The probe is placed on the eye, but oriented so the plane of the ultrasound beam is parallel to the limbus. If the entire retina were a clock, the ultrasound image from a transverse scan would show several clock hours of the retinal periphery in one frame.

Of the 3 orientations, transverse is used the most because it allows you to pan the probe and integrate that quadrant of the retinal periphery into a 3D mental image. This is something that you will understand and get much better at with a little practice in clinic.

Dynamic scans

Performing a dynamic scan just means having the patient move their eye back and forth to evaluate how the structures are moving. This is most important in differentiating vitreous detachments from more emergent retinal detachments. The posterior hyaloid membrane (which separates the vitreous from the retina) moves rapidly and tumbles loosely in the eye, like a “washing machine”. The retina undulates more slowly and is more echogenic than the hyaloid.

Example ultrasounds

Retinal detachment

Retinal detachments have a characteristic undulating movement of the retina with dynamic scans. The retina moves at a slower speed than the posterior hyaloid and its reflectivity is higher. You can use ultrasound using the axial, transverse and longitudinal views to delineate where the retina has detached.

Vitreous hemorrhage

Vitreous hemorrhages are seen commonly in the setting of acute vision loss in one eye. They can happen in diabetic retinopathy and almost every other retinal neovascular disease.

Choroidal nevus

Choroidal nevi can be differentiated from choroidal melanoma in that they have a uniform, high internal reflectivity.

Choroidal melanoma

Choroidal melanomas have a low to medium internal reflectivity due to the fact that they are more vascular.

Choroidal hemangioma

Choroidal hemangiomas have a uniform, high-internal reflectivity.