Role of ultrasound B-scan in the evaluation of opaque ocular media following ocular trauma in a tertiary care centre in Jharkhand: A hospital-based prospective observational cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background

Ocular trauma is an important cause of preventable visual impairment. Diagnosis of the posterior segment is impaired if there is opacity to the ocular media. Under such conditions, ultrasound B-scan is a useful imaging tool for the detection of posterior segment abnormalities.

 Methods:

This was a prospective observational cross-sectional study at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, RIMS, Ranchi, Jharkhand, from January 2024 to June 2025. A total of 60 eyes of 58 patients with ocular trauma and opaque ocular media were examined with 10 MHz ultrasound B-scan. The diagnostic performance of the ultrasonographic findings was compared with the intra-operative findings and/or the post-media-clearance fundus examination.

 Results:

The majority of participants were male (72.4%), and blunt trauma was the most common injury cause (68.3%). The most frequent ultrasonographic abnormalities were vitreous hemorrhage (46.7%), retinal detachment (25%), choroidal detachment (10), and intraocular foreign body (6.7%). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy were 98.1%, 57.1%, 94.5%, 80%, and 93.3%, respectively, as per ultrasound B-scan.

 Conclusion:

Ultrasound B-scan is considered to be a very sensitive, safe, and economical modality for the diagnosis of posterior segment disease in eyes with opacities of the ocular media after trauma. It helps in diagnosis at an early stage, surgical planning, and visual prognosis.

 Recommendation:

Ultrasound B-scan should be routinely used for patients with opaque ocular media and ocular trauma to ensure prompt diagnosis and management of posterior segment lesions with potential to threaten sight, particularly in resource-limited emergency departments and tertiary care centres.