[Sonographic diagnosis (B-mode technique) for the eyes in horses. 1. Methods and normal findings]

In this presentation, normal sonoanatomy of the horse eye will be introduced and biometrical data of 30 healthy eyes along optical axis will be presented. We used the ultrasound system Philips Diagnost R 1200 in connection with a 5 MHz linear transducer. With this equipment it is possible to visualize and measure at the unaltered eye the cornea, the anterior chamber of the eye, ciliary body, iris, lens, vitreous body, wall of the posterior globe (retina, choroid, sclera) and retrobulbar structures (optical nerve, retrobulbar muscles, orbital fat pad, bony orbita). The echographical examination of the eye yields important information about inner structures of the eye, especially in diseases where a visual examination of the whole eye is impossible due to opacity of the optical system or after artificial eyelid closure. Biometrical measurements of the bulbus dimensions give the possibility to accumulate so-called standard values for the horse eye, which examiners who mostly are confronted with altered eyes can use and compare to their own measurements. The course of disease or success of therapy can then be evaluated objectively using the measurements and ultrasonic pictures.