Anterior segment biometry using ultrasound biomicroscopy and the Artemis-2 very high frequency ultrasound scanner

Biometric assessment of pseudophakic subjects during objective accommodative stimulation: a prospective observational study

Clinical relevance: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is an objective method for assessing changes in anterior segment biometry. There is a paucity of data on the reliability of this method. A reliable method for assessing anterior segment changes during physiologically driven accommodation can be a useful tool for clinicians, researchers, and industry.Background: To assess the test-retest reliability of ultrasound biomicroscopy for measurements of change in anterior chamber depth during a distance to near fixation task in pseudophakic subjects.Methods: Subjects were adults with monofocal intraocular lenses implanted in both eyes who completed a 6-month post-operative period and had monocular uncorrected distance visual acuity of 6/15 (0.4 logMAR) or better. The change in anterior chamber depth during a distance to near fixation task was measured with a 35-MHz VuMAX HD ultrasound biomicroscopy device (Sonomed Escalon, New Hyde Park, NY) during two separate visits. An asymmetrical vergence paradigm allowed evaluation of anterior segment biometry at 22-µm axial resolution in one eye, while the fellow eye fixated on the target. To assess the test-retest reliability, 2-sided 95% CI from a paired t test was calculated for the difference in anterior chamber depth change from distance to near between visits.Results: The mean (standard deviation) near-focused anterior chamber depth measured by ultrasound biomicroscopy was 4.331 (0.237) and 4.333 (0.241) mm at visits 1 and 2, respectively. In response to a change in fixation from distance (4 m) to near (40 cm), the mean anterior chamber depth change was -0.012 (0.038) and 0.003 (0.039) mm at visits 1 and 2, respectively. Analysis of the difference in the change in anterior chamber depth between visits was -0.015 mm (95% CI, -0.035 to 0.003).Conclusion: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a repeatable, objective method for assessing change in anterior segment biometry during physiological changes in fixation from distance to near.

Research on Golay-coded excitation in real-time imaging of high frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy

High frequency ultrasonic imaging provides clinicians with high-resolution diagnostic images and more accurate measurement results. The technique is now widely used in ophthalmology, dermatology, and small animal imaging. However, since ultrasonic attenuation in tissue increases rapidly with increasing frequency, the depth of detection of high frequency ultrasound in tissue is limited to a few millimeters. In this paper, a novel method of using Golay-coded excitation as a replacement for conventional single-pulse excitation in high frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy was proposed, and real-time imaging was realized. While maintaining the transmission voltage and image resolution unchanged, the detection depth can be effectively improved. The ultrasonic transmission frequency is 30 MHz and the transmission voltage is ± 60 V p-p. In this study, 4-bit, 8-bit, and 16-bit coding sequences and decoding compression were used. To verify the effectiveness of the coding sequence in real-time imaging of ultrasound biomicroscopy, we designed a 10-μm diameter line target echo experiment, an ultrasound phantom experiment, and an in vitro porcine eye experiment. The experimental results show that the code/decode method of signal processing can not only maintain a resolution consistent with that of single-pulse transmission, but can also improve the detection depth and signal-to-noise ratio.

Clinical efficacy of modified partial pars plana vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification for malignant glaucoma

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of modified partial pars plana vitrectomy together with phacoemulsification, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, posterior capsulectomy, and zonulohyaloidectomy for patients with malignant glaucoma after trabeculectomy or cataract surgery.DesignRetrospective, cohort study.ParticipantsThirty consecutive patients (30 eyes) with malignant glaucoma after trabeculectomy surgery or ultrasonic phacoemulsification of cataract between January 2008 and September 2014 were enrolled.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 30 eyes with malignant glaucoma after trabeculectomy surgery for angle-closure glaucoma or ultrasonic phacoemulsification of cataract was performed. All patients underwent modified partial pars plana vitrectomy with zonulohyaloidectomy. Phacoemulsification and IOL implantation was performed in 25 patients with no previous cataract surgery. Pre-operative and post-operative ocular parameters were recorded in detail.Main outcome measuresClinical features, anterior chamber depth, best-corrected visual acuity, and intraocular pressure (IOP).ResultsIn these 30 patients, 25 had undergone trabeculectomy surgery and 5 had undergone cataract surgery. The mean axial length was 21.3±0.8 mm. After surgery, mean IOP decreased from 34±8.3 mm Hg to 10.5±4.1 mm Hg (P<0.001), and mean anterior chamber depth increased from 0.8±0.4 mm to 2.7±0.3 mm (P<0.001). No severe complications occurred.ConclusionsModified partial pars plana vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification, IOL implantation, posterior capsulectomy, and zonulohyaloidectomy not only simplifies the process of traditional vitrectomy, but effectively resolves the ciliary block and corrects the misdirection of aqueous humor in malignant glaucoma.

Anterior chamber depth measurement using ultrasound to assess elevated intraocular pressure

Increased anterior chamber pressure also known as intraocular pressure can result from conditions such as glaucoma and trauma. The pressure in the anterior chamber is measured using tonometer. Measurement of the intraocular pressure is essential, as it requires immediate medical attention to alleviate pain and to avoid temporary or permanent damage to intraocular structures. Bedside ocular ultrasound (US) has gained popularity in recent years. It has been used to assess intracranial pressure via optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and evaluate retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, or pupillary reflex in a trauma patient. We report 2 cases of patients with glaucoma and a case of a patient with trauma to the eye with swelling. Anterior chamber depth measurement was conducted and compared with measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP) using a tonometer.