[Ultrasound in the diagnosis of macular pathology of the eye]

MARK-500 gray-scale digital processing B scanner (ATL) with a probe frequency of 7.5 MHz was employed in examinations of 112 patients with various clinically verified macular conditions. B scanorgams were normal in nearly all dry maculodystrophy cases. In manifest fibrous exudative maculodystrophies the scanograms showed local thickening (up to 2.6 mm on an average) of the inner membranes (edema), dense sites (fibrosis, lipid and protein substance deposits). Only in several Irvin-Hass' syndrome cases with manifest cystous macular edema the scanograms showed local thickening of the membranes. Local detachment of the retina in the macular area was well seen, as was premacular fibrosis. Sub- and proretinal hemorrhages, neovascular membranes, poorly manifest fibrosis within the membranes were as a rule undetectable by echography. In cases with impaired transparency of the optic media or when the pupil cannot be dilated, present-day B echo scanning may be employed to detect grave abnormalities in the macular area.