Ultrasonography in Detecting the Posterior Segment Pathology in Pre-Operative Cataract Patient

Abstract

Background: Cataract is the leading cause of blindness globally, accounting for approximately 47.8% of blindness worldwide and 51.5% in Pakistan. The opacity of the lens in cataract patients obstructs the visualization of the posterior segment, making it challenging to predict visual outcomes post-surgery. Ultrasonography, particularly B-scan, plays a crucial role in identifying posterior segment pathologies before cataract surgery, aiding in surgical planning, and improving postoperative visual prognosis. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of B-scan ultrasonography in detecting posterior segment pathologies in patients with dense cataracts, thus assisting in preoperative planning and predicting visual outcomes. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Outpatient Department of Ophthalmology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from August 15th, 2019, to February 15th, 2020. A total of 260 eyes from patients with dense cataracts were included. Patients of all age groups and both sexes, including those with traumatic and non-traumatic cataracts, were examined. Exclusion criteria included transmittable ocular surface infections, penetrating ocular trauma, previous glaucoma or vitreoretinal surgery, and siliconized eyes. B-scan ultrasonography was performed using an 8-10 MHz frequency probe. The eye globe was assessed in axial, longitudinal, and transverse positions. Data were recorded and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board, and the study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki. Results: Out of 260 eyes examined, 97 (37.3%) were right eyes, 105 (40.4%) were left eyes, and 58 (22.3%) had bilateral involvement. Normal findings were observed in 215 eyes (67.8%), while 32.2% showed posterior segment pathologies. The most common pathology was posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), found in 24 eyes (7.6%). Retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage were each observed in 15 eyes (4.7%). Other findings included asteroid hyalosis (18 eyes, 5.7%), vitreous inflammation (11 eyes, 3.5%), intraocular foreign body (3 eyes, 0.9%), persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (1 eye, 0.3%), and posterior staphyloma (2 eyes, 0.6%). Conclusion: B-scan ultrasonography is an effective tool for detecting posterior segment pathologies in preoperative dense cataract patients, significantly influencing surgical strategies and postoperative visual outcomes. Routine use of ultrasonography in cataract patients can enhance surgical planning and improve patient counseling and prognosis.