ABSTRACT
Long-standing diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy may develop vitreoretinal changes including vitreous hemorrhage, posterior vitreous detachment and secondary tractional retinal detachment that could cause visual loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate vitreous changes in diabetic patients with long-standing proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Real-time ocular and orbital ultrasound was prospectively performed in 72 eyes of 36 diabetic patients with long- standing diabetic retinopathy using 7.5 MHZ and 12.5 MHZ high resolution transducers. In 72 eyes of 36 diabetic patients, vitreous changes were detected in 52 eyes. These changes were vitreous hemorrhage in all the 52 eyes. The ultrasonic pattern of vitreous hemorrhage was internal echoes in 20 eyes, linear echoes in 13 eyes, sheets of echoes in four eyes, clumps of echoes in 11 eyes and bands of echoes in four eyes. Associated posterior vitreous detachment was detected in eight eyes and associated secondary retinal detachment was detected in six eyes. Real-time ultrasonography showed a significant role in diagnosing vitreous changes and their sequelae in diabetic patients