ULTRASOUND BIOMICROSCOPIC IMAGING IN INTERMEDIATE UVEITIS

Background-Clinical examination of the region of the eye mainly affect ed in patients with intermediate uveitis is difficult and often hamper ed by media opacities. In that perspective ultrasound biomicroscopy (U BM) promises to be a valuable additional diagnostic tool. Methods-UBM was performed at a sound frequency of 50 MHz on 26 eyes of 13 patients with intermediate uveitis in order to determine configuration of pars plana, peripheral retina, and vitreous. Findings of ophthalmoscopy wi th scleral indentation and UBM were compared. Results-In 18 of 26 eyes pathological structures such as membraneous or fluffy vitreous conden sations were identified by UBM. Among these UBM revealed pathological findings which were not visible on funduscopy in nine eyes. Most impor tantly, vitreoretinal adhesions with traction on the retina were image d in four eyes. However, in three eyes vitreous opacities being visibl e on funduscopy were not identified by UBM. Conclusion-UBM seems to be a valuable diagnostic technique for the evaluation of patients with i ntermediate uveitis. Longitudinal studies will have to determine the r elevance of UBM findings for the individual clinical course and their influence on therapeutic decisions.