ANTENATAL SONOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE EYE

Purpose of the study Some ocular diseases are detected by amniotic flu id analysis. However some serious eye malformations are only detected at birth. By analogy to other organs, we were concerned by fetal sonog raphy studying in utero ocular structures. Methods We performed 150 fe tal sonograph with 2 abdominal probes and one vaginal probe. We define d: (a) Axes where ocular structures are best visualised, (b) sonograph ic images of these structures, (c) the date at wich these structures a re detected. Results Orbit are detected between 11th and 12th week ame norrhae. Lens are detected between 12th and 14th week. Hyaloid artery appeals around rite 18th and disappears around the 32th. Lids were rec ognised at 16th week. These results were confirmed by similar studies. Pathologic cases described in the literature are discussed. Conclusio n Fetal sonography must include a precise study of the eye. However th e eye is a small organ, so ifs study implicates technicaly skilled and an experienced practitioner. Fetal sonography gives precise informati on about normal eye development and allows the detection of structural anomalies (anophthalmos, microphthalmos, cyclopia) or orbital prenata l malformations (hyaloid artery persistance).