Diagnosis of peripheral retinoschisis using ultrasound biomicroscopy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Retinal imaging can help differentiate retinoschisis (RS) from retinal detachment (RD). This study describes new sonographic features of RS using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and evaluates their diagnostic value. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of subjects diagnosed with RS and RD who underwent imaging prior to intervention were reviewed. Images were evaluated for detachment shape ultrasound (US) B-mode, as well as presence of intraretinal pillars, retinal layers split, and intraretinal cysts on UBM. RESULTS: Of 48 eyes from 48 patients in the study, 25 were diagnosed as RS and 23 as RD. "Retinal layers split" was the most common UBM fnding in the RS group (72%), followed by intraretinal pillars (64%) and intraretinal cysts (36%). No RD case exhibited these findings (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: UBM might assist in difficult cases to differentiate between RS and RD by detection of the unique sonographic features of RS described herein.