Intraorbital air simulating an intraocular foreign body

To present an ultrasonographic finding that simulated an intraocular foreign body after repair of a ruptured globe.

Case report. An ultrasonogram of a post-trauma eye was correlated with a computed tomographic scan.

B-scan ultrasonography was performed on an eye after repair of a corneoscleral laceration. The ultrasonogram showed a highly reflective echo source suggestive of a foreign body; however, an orbital computed tomographic scan demonstrated that the lesion was intraorbital air.

Although a highly reflective echo source in the presence of a ruptured globe may suggest a foreign body, the presence of orbital air should also be considered when interpreting ultrasonograms used in the preoperative and postoperative management of globe trauma.