OPHTHALMOLOGY

Ultrasound for Ophthalmology

Ultrasound has been used for the evaluation of cerebrovascular disease for over a decade and has made considerable progress. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound is a non‐invasive, non‐ionising, inexpensive, portable and safe technique that uses a pulsed Doppler transducer for assessment of intracerebral blood flow.

A TCD test also measures the speed of blood movement through the cerebral arteries. Blood flows through these arteries to your brain. The brain needs a large supply of blood. The blood supplies the oxygen and glucose (sugar) that your brain needs for energy to work and stay healthy. Therefore, it’s extremely important to have enough blood flow to your brain.

There are multiple areas in ophthalmology where TCD is utilized. Decreased OA (ophthalmic artery) velocity measurements can often be associated with chronic open angle glaucoma or normal tension (low tension) glaucoma. The Neuro radiologist looks at the pulsatility indices which can be abnormal with arteriosclerosis and can also be seen with vascular insufficiency. It can pick up large arteriosclerosis-venous malformations. Finally, reversal of the flow in the OA can often be related to high grade proximal ICA stenosis and can be very important to treat, prior to a patient having a CVA.

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