Ocular ultrasonography for detection of posterior segment pathology in adult patients presenting with blurred vision

Abstract

Background and objective: Ocular posterior segment lesions can affect individuals of both sexes at all ages. Such lesions can lead to serious manifestations such as retinal detachment and retinal hemorrhage, leading to permanent loss of eyesight. This study aimed to determine the association between age and gender and changes in ocular posterior segment based on ultrasonography findings. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 50 patients with blurry vision who had been referred from ophthalmology outpatient clinics to the radiology department of Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil, Kurdistan region in Iraq. Required data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire, and the patients were examined using a high resolution 7.5-10 MHz linear array ultrasound transducer. Results: The most frequent complications associated with ocular posterior segment pathologies were old vitreous hemorrhage (72%), posterior vitreous detachment (36%), and retinal detachment (34%). Diabetes and hypertension were the most frequent diseases associated with ocular posterior segment pathology. A significant association was seen between the patients' age with old vitreous hemorrhage (P = 0.003). A significant association was seen between the patients’ medical conditions with old vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. There was no significant correlation between the patients’ gender and the studied ocular posterior segment pathologies. Conclusion: Age has a strong correlation with old vitreous hemorrhage, chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, and hypertension correlated with old vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment. Keywords: Ocular ultrasonography; Posterior segment pathology; Blurred vision; Age; Gender.