Ultrasonic and biomicroscopic observations on the vitreous space in patients with idiopathic detachment of the retina.

Biomicroscopy and ultrasonography were used to examine the vitreous bodies of 22 unselected eyes with idiopathic detachment of the retina. In addition, the subretinal space was examined acoustically. Optical examination showed severe degeneration of the vitreous body in 17 cases, slight degeneration in four cases, while in one case optical examination was not possible. Acoustic examination yielded the same results. The subretinal space was acoustically heterogeneous in all the eyes examined. In two eyes, the subretinal fluid reflected rapidly moving echoes, in the other 20 the movements were slow. The echoes from the degeneration of the vitreous body were 5-10 dB higher in amplitude than those from the subretinal space. Both optical and acoustic methods should be used to ascertain the disposition of the other eye to detachment of the retina.