Ultrasonic diagnosis of orbito-ocular diseases in Benin City, Nigeria.

The use of ultrasound in the evaluation of eye disease is a recent development in Benin City, Nigeria. This study was carried out to find out the usefulness of ocular ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of eye diseases in Benin City. A total of thirty nine patients who had B scan ultrasound examination of their eyes over a one year period (March 1999 February 2000 ) are included in the study. There were twenty five males and fourteen females. The most common diagnosis was retinal detachment in twenty one patients. Other conditions detected by ultrasound examination were vitreous haemorrhage, intraocular foreign bodies, mucocoele, orbital tumours and trauma. There was a 92.3% correlation between the clinical diagnosis and B scan ultrasound diagnosis. B scan ultrasound examination is a safe, non invasive, inexpensive, atraumatic and accurate means of evaluating the eye. Its use is strongly recommended in Nigeria.