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Ultrasound biomicroscopy for the analysis of the anterior segment
Author(s) -
PEDROTTI E
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2009.3231.x
Subject(s) - ultrasound biomicroscopy , ciliary body , cornea , scheimpflug principle , ultrasound , iris (biosensor) , anterior eye segment , anterior chamber angle , glaucoma , ophthalmology , medicine , accommodation , lens (geology) , posterior segment of eyeball , anatomy , optics , computer science , radiology , artificial intelligence , physics , biometrics
The conventional ultrasound imaging allows to study easily the structures of the eye, even if the obtained informations have a maximal definition of 500‐600 um and a maximal depth of 30‐40 mm. This definition, sometimes, is not enough to study the microscopical structures, such as cornea, iris, anterior chamber angle, ciliary bodies and zonula. The ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) was born to achieve a greater definition of the acquired images. This method, originally developed by Pavlin, Sherar, and Foster, allow the exploration of smaller and superficial structures, in particular of the anterior segment, with a spatial definition in vivo similar to histological preparations. The ultrasound biomicroscopy, thanks to high frequency of 50‐100 MHz, can reach a depth of 5 mm with a definition of 50‐60 um, unthinkable with conventional ultrasound. The application fields of this technique are pathologies of conjunctiva, cornea, iris, zonula, ciliary body and lens. The best informations are given especially when we have to study the angle of anterior chamber and ciliary body in glaucoma, cancers of the anterior segment, the artificially outflow roads in glaucoma surgery and the accommodation mechanism. This technique have two main concerns, the repeatability of the measures is operator‐dependent, as each ultrasound technology, and then it is a contact method. Even if new no contact and operator independent technologies are emerging, like interferometry and Scheimpflug Camera, UBM is actually undoubtedly the gold standard for the study of the anterior segment structures.