Optic nerve measurements by 3D ultrasound-based coronal "C-scan" imaging.

Twenty-three normal eyes were examined with the Intensity Profiling technique of 3D I-Scan and 52 normal eyes with the Automated technique of OTI-Scan 1000 ultrasound systems (Ophthalmic Technologies Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada). With the eye looking straight, the probe was applied on the temporal sclera. Scanning generated 3D image files. Coronal optic nerve measurements were obtained 3 mm behind the globe. The mean optic nerve sheath diameter was 4.8 mm (standard deviation = 0.6; range, 3.9 to 5.9 mm) with the Intensity Profiling technique, and 5.4 mm (standard deviation = 0.4; range, 4.4 to 6.0 mm) with the Automated technique. 3D ultrasound imaging can be used to obtain optic nerve measurements in vivo. Both the Intensity Profiling and the Automated techniques yielded measurements similar to current magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan reports. Coronal "C-scan" sectioning can be used as a screening tool to measure optic nerve diameter prior to magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography.