Can a B-scan eye ultrasound detect fundus lesions?

Ocular B-scan ultrasonography can be used to examine fundus lesions, and patients are advised to seek timely medical evaluation at a hospital.

B-mode ultrasound of the eye generates real-time, two-dimensional acoustic tomographic images from the iris to the posterior segment of the globe through sector or linear scanning, converting interface echo reflections into bright spots on a display screen. Real-time scanning provides clear information regarding the location, size, shape, and relationship of lesions to surrounding tissues, offering an intuitive and practical assessment of detected abnormalities. B-scan ultrasonography is primarily used when the refractive media are significantly opaque, allowing evaluation of the posterior ocular anatomy. It assists in diagnosing conditions such as posterior scleral rupture, identifying the location and extent of intraocular foreign bodies, characterizing intraocular masses, and assessing the extent, severity, and differential diagnosis of retinal and choroidal detachments. When the refractive media are clear, however, indirect ophthalmoscopy and fundus photography remain the preferred methods for evaluating fundus lesions.

Fundus lesions may also be examined using indirect ophthalmoscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy combined with three-mirror or anterior chamber lenses, or specialized diagnostic instruments such as fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).