[Acoustic studies in proliferative diabetic retinopathy]

Based on analysis of published reports and his own experience of acoustic studies (B-method) in more than 500 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the author concludes that preretinal fibrovascular membranes (posterior detachment of the hyaloid membrane with neovascularization) are often mistaken for retinal detachment. Acoustically detected solitary or multiple adhesions between fibrovascular and eye membranes are an important differential diagnostic sign indicating the absence of retinal detachment. These adhesions result from gradual staged "creeping" posterior vitreal detachment and indicate the sites of previous contact of the hyaloid membrane with the retina. In subtotal detachment of the retina there are no adhesions with ocular membranes and the retina acquires the configuration of a rigid fibrovascular membrane.