Ultrasonography is relatively inexpensive, noninvasive, and allows definition of ocular and retrobulbar anatomy and, with the advent of Doppler imaging, permits measurement of the blood velocity parameters of the orbital and ocular vasculature.

A total of 6 (female), previously healthy Persian cats were selected. General Electric's Voluson-Pro ultrasound equipment with linear trapezoid 8–10 MHz transducer was applied for all the examinations. The ocular blood vessels imaged included the long posterior ciliary arteries (LPCA), the short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCA), and the anterior ciliary artery (ACA). Two measurements were made for each of the vessels imaged, and the results were averaged: peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV). Mean PSV, EDV at the LPCA were 12.3 cm/s, 5.1 cm/s; SPCA were 10.8 cm/s, 5.5 cm/s; and for ACA were 16 cm/s, 8.2 cm/s.

Doppler imaging has the potential for determining non-invasively and consecutively the blood velocity parameters found in orbital and ocular diseases, including orbital inflammations and neoplasia; intraocular inflammations and neoplasia; vascular diseases including systemic vascular disease (hypertension), vasculopathies, and anemia; glaucoma; and document able followup after medical and surgical treatment of these diseases.

References

1.  Gelatt-Nicholson KJ, Dennis EA, Newell SM. Doppler imaging of the ophthalmic vasculature of the normal dog, blood velocity measurement and reproducibility. Veterinary Ophthalmology. 1999;2:87–96.

2.  Schmid V, Murisier N. Color Doppler imaging of the orbit in the dog. Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology. 1996;6:35–44.

3.  Williamson TH, Harris A. Color Doppler ultrasound imaging of the eye and orbit. Survey of Ophthalmology. 1996;40(4):255–267.