[Ultrasonic echography. Current and future tasks in the finding of intraocular foreign bodies]

Unlike most publications ultrasonography is not seen as an alternative concept to x-ray localization of intraocular foreign bodies but as supporting aid. It is primarily used for the rather simple measurement of the form of the injured eye and not so much for direct search of the foreign body. The latter is rather difficult to perform intraoperatively. The combined method is based on the Comberg localization using a mobile x-ray television unit. The x-ray imagery shows quickly, exactly and clearly the localization of the foreign body in the orbita. The eye itself cannot be seen on the monitor, but ultrasonic data allow to add its contours, corrected individually. This work is done by a computer. The measurement of coordinates and angles usually performed by the investigator is done by a computer, too. The linkage of both x-ray and ultrasonic equipment to a computer relieves the surgeon of the graphical tasks and ultrasonic search for the foreign body; it also gives information about the localization of the foreign body in the individual case during the entire operation.