ULTRASONIC INVESTIGATION OF THE EYE WITH A NEW CONTACT METHOD AND WITH THREE DIFFERENT REAL‐TIME PRESENTATIONS
The ultrasound examination was carried out by means of a crystal with a 40° sector scan, which was pressed either against the eyelid or directly against the sclera. The real‐time display was obtained by either A‐mode, B‐mode or combined A/B‐mode scanning. In clinical applications, both the resolution capacity and the sensitivity of the device were good. A‐mode scanning gave the greatest accurary in amplitude measurement, while the A/B‐mode yielded the most concrete topographic picture of the target.
DIAGNOSTICS OF DETACHMENT OF THE RETINA BY MEANS OF ULTRASOUND
It is usually easy to diagnose detachment of the retina by means of ophthalmoscopy. On the other hand, it is at times difficult and even impossible to establish whether the detachment is idiopathic or produced by inflammation, tumour or trauma. From the point of view of therapy it is most important to know whether or not there is any tumour tissue behind the detached retina, which, nevertheless, is frequently most uncertain in spite of the use of the ophthalmoscope, transillumination and radioactive phosphorus. Mundth and Hughes (3) as well as Oksala and Lehtinen (4) have recurred to the use of ultrasound in the diagnostics of tumours within the eye. Oksala and Lehtinen were moreover successful in registering the echo of a detached retina with the aid of an ultrasonic equipment, thus being able to establish whether there was fluid (vitreous or blood) or tumour tissue behind the retina. The investigators just mentioned succeeded, solely by the use of this equipment, in determining the localisation of the detachment of retina with an accuracy of some two millimetres. Since the ultrasound easily penetrates both the transparent and the opaque lens, it is possible to determine, by means of an ultrasonic equipment, the site of the retina even in those cases in which we fail to see the eye ground through the ophthalmoscope for some reason. Simultaneously one can say, with a relatively high degree of certitude, whether there is tumour tissue behind the detached retina or not. Since our search of the literature has failed to reveal any reports on the use of ultrasound in the diagnostics of such cases, we describe below a case of our own.
Radioactive Isotopes in Ophthalmology*: The Charles H. May Memorial Lecture
to ophthalmology was through his remarkable little book, "Manual of the Diseases of the Eye," and also 12through his electric ophthalmoscope, which was so fascinating to me as a medical student. It would be an exaggeration to say that these were the determining factors which influenced my decision to specialize in this field of medicine but they certainly had a lot to do with it. Therefore, I am particularly honored to be chosen to give the Charles H. May Memorial Lecture.