OCULAR ULTRASOUND: A NEGLECTED TOOL IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION.

PURPOSE: To discuss the practical utility of ocular ultrasound in central retinal artery occlusion.

METHODS

Ocular ultrasound was obtained in four patients with central retinal artery occlusion using a 20 MHz Annular Array Probe of the ABSolu (Quantel Medical, Rockwall, TX) ultrasound machine.

RESULTS

The causative embolus occluding the central retinal artery was detected on ocular ultrasound imaging in four patients with central retinal artery occlusion.

CONCLUSION

Ocular ultrasound, including newer generation, higher frequency ultrasound probes, aids in the detection of the "retrobulbar spot sign," a finding that seems to be related to embolic central retinal artery occlusion. This sign will orient investigations toward finding an embolic source.