Use of ophthalmic B-scan ultrasonography in determining the causes of low vision in patients with diabetic retinopathy

PURPOSE: To determine the causes of low vision among Sudanese patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) by using ophthalmic B-scan ultrasonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients with DR at different grades, were recruited prospectively between September 2016 and January 2018. Nidek (Echoscan US-4000) ultrasound unit was used to determine the causes of low vision in diabetic patients according to their glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and early treatment of diabetic retinopathy scale (ETDRS) severity levels. RESULTS: Vitreous hemorrhage (VH) 42(66.6%), asteroid hyalosis (AH) 12(14.3%), and partial retinal detachment (PRD) 9(19%) were the main cause of low vision in patients presenting with moderately regulated HbA1c and graded with either minimal or mild nonproliferative retinopathy (NPDR). While VH 15(40.5%), total retinal detachment (TRD) 12(32.4%), posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) 7(19%), and choroidal detachment (CD) 3(8.1%), were dominant in patients with poorly regulated HbA1c and graded either as moderate NPDR; severe NPDR; and proliferative retinopathy (PR). CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic B-mode ultrasound is a rapid, noninvasive imaging technique that can be used with minimum discomfort in ophthalmological practice for the detection and evaluation of DR complications that predict the visual outcome.