Utilisation of Ophthalmic B-Scan Ultrasonography to Identify the etiology of Impaired Vision in Diabetic Retinopathy Patients
by Mustafa Alhassen1, Mohammed Alqahtani1, Moram Fagiry2, 1King Khalid University, 2Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University
Aim:
This study aimed to determine the aetiology of impaired vision in Saudi patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) through the utilisation of ophthalmic B-scan ultrasonography.
Methods:
Prospective recruitment of 100 patients with DR of varying severity was conducted between September 2023 and January 2025. The causes of impaired vision in diabetic patients were determined using the Nidek (Echoscan US-4000) ultrasound instrument, which was employed in accordance with the severity
levels of the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) scale and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c).
Results:
In patients with moderately regulated HbA1c and graded with either minimal or mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), vitreous haemorrhage (VH) 42 (66.6%), asteroid hyalosis (AH) 12 (14.3%), and partial retinal detachment (PRD), 9 (19%) were the primary
causes of impaired vision. VH 15 (40.5%), total retinal detachment (TRD) 12 (32.4%), posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) 7 (19%), and choroidal detachment (CD) 3 (8.1%) were predominant in patients with inadequately regulated HbA1c and were classified as moderate NPDR, severe NPDR, and proliferative retinopathy (PR).
Conclusions:
Ophthalmic B-mode ultrasound is a quick and painless imaging method that can be used easily in eye care to find and assess complications of diabetic retinopathy that may affect vision.