A study of ultrasound biomicroscope in diagnoses of senile cataract

PURPOSE To investigate the imaging characteristics of ultrasound biomicroscope (UBM) in the different stages and evaluate preliminary application of UBM in diagnosis of senile cataract. METHODS Using UBM to examine 80 eyes, which were diagnosed senile cataract by slit-lamp microscope (20 eyes, incipient stage; 20 eyes, intumescent stage; 20 eyes, mature stage; 20 eyes, hypermature stage). RESULTS The UBM image of senile cataract is distinguished in the different stages. In incipient stage, it shows sporadic flake high echo areas in equator of the lens. In intumescent stage, it shows flake high echo areas and low echo areas interlace each other, and the thickness of equator increases. In mature stage, it shows symmetrical high echo areas in cortex of the lens and higher echo areas in nucleus of the lens sometimes. In hypermature stage, it shows irregular echo (heterogeneous high density glisten) areas of the lens, heterogeneous incrassation and strong echo areas of anterior capsule. Characteristic high echo granules were found in the anterior chamber. The granules may obstruct the anterior chamber angle. CONCLUSION The UBM examination can be an assistant diagnostic method for senile cataract, especially for the patients whose refractive media of ocular anterior segment is opacity or the pupil is very small.