PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT OF POSTERIOR SEGMENT PATHOLOGIES IN CATARACT PATIENTS USING B-SCAN ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Abstract

Background & Objective: B-scan ultrasonography is routinely used to evaluate posterior segment pathology in patients with dense cataracts. However, data on the incidence and spectrum of these findings in the Pakistani population remain limited. This study aims to report the frequency of posterior segment abnormalities in this cohort.

 Methodology: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in between November 2022 and January 2025. Adult patients (≥18 years) scheduled for cataract surgery with an obscured view of the fundus underwent B-scan ultrasonography for preoperative posterior segment evaluation. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, with continuous variables presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and categorical variables as frequencies and percentages.

Results & Findings: A total of 127 eyes from 127 patients underwent B-scan ultrasonography during the study period. The mean age was 53.95 ± 13.66 years. Of the participants, 90 (70.9%) were male and 37 (29.1%) female. A normal posterior segment was observed in 92 eyes (72.4%). The most common pathological finding was posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in 23 eyes (18.1%), followed by retinal detachment in 4 eyes (3.1%) and vitreous hemorrhage in 3 eyes (2.36%). Conclusion: PVD was the most common posterior segment pathology in cataract surgery candidates, followed by retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage in local Pakistani population. B-scan ultrasonography proved to be an effective preoperative tool for detecting posterior segment abnormalities, particularly in resource-limited settings.”