[Use of ultrasound in ophthalmology]

In ophthalmology, ultrasound is applied in diagnostics as well as in surgery and therapy. This paper gives a short survey on both applications. Ultrasonic phacoemulsification is of considerable practical importance for modern cataract micro-surgery with intraocular lens implantation. Applications of that kind require consideration of ultrasonic bioeffects and equipment safety. Diagnostic use of ultrasound includes biometry (echometry), tissue examination and characterization, and vascular investigations in eye and orbit. The application of diagnostic ultrasound on in-patients, its individual indications, and the appropriate methods (A, B, automatic biometric devices for axial length measuring, M, Doppler) are described. Examples of commercially available instruments for the different applications are given. In comparison with other disciplines ophthalmic A-mode and B-mode echography is characterized by: refined depth resolution and lateral resolution; the important part of quantitative methods for clinical evaluation of echograms; and the advanced level of quality assurance for equipment performance. Refined tissue evaluation requires optimized and reproducible equipment parameters. To ensure these conditions the clinical echographer must be educated and willing to test performance and quality of his equipment. Finally, a perspective of actual research in diagnostic ultrasound of the eye is given.