Echographic evaluation of retinal tears in patients with spontaneous vitreous hemorrhage
C. DiBernardo, B. Blodi and S. F. Byrne
Department of Echography, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Miami, Fla.
We studied the ability of standardized echography to correctly diagnose a
retinal tear in patients with opaque ocular media due to vitreous
hemorrhage. Records were studied of 42 patients with spontaneous vitreous
hemorrhage and no ophthalmoscopic view of fundus details. Of these 42
patients, 11 had an echographic diagnosis of probable retinal tear and no
retinal detachment. In 10 (91%) of 11 cases, the presence and location of
the tears that were diagnosed echographically were confirmed on clinical
follow-up. In one patient, an area of peripheral neovascularization was
mistaken for a tear. Echography failed to identify one retinal tear that
was later detected on clinical examination. Therefore, we have found
standardized echography to be a reliable tool in identifying retinal
breaks.
