Sonographic Findings in the Posterior Segment of the Eye in Pre-Operative Cataract Patients

Background: Cataract surgery is a common and cost-effective procedure aimed at preventing blindness by removing the lens opacity that obstructs the visualization of the posterior segment of the eye. Visualizing the posterior segment is crucial for predicting visual outcomes after surgery. This study aimed to determine abnormal sonographic findings in the posterior segment of the eye globe among cataract patients and the associated risk factors. Methods and Results: This retrospective study was conducted at Kafaat Medical Center (Makkah Almokaramah city, Saudi Arabia) from February to May 2025. It included 204 complete patients' records to determine abnormal sonographic findings in the posterior segment of the eye globe among cataract patients and the associated risk factors. All patients were scanned with a Quante Medical ultrasound (USG) scanner for ophthalmology, Model REF-B1, equipped with a 10 MHz probe. The examination focused on the posterior eye segment. Among 204 patients with dense cataracts (55.4% men and 44.6% women), 56.9% presented with traumatic cataract (TC), while 43.1% had non-traumatic cataract (n-TC). Most of the patients were over age 60(67.6%). Out of 204 patients, 120(58.8%) had normal findings in the posterior eye segment, 36(17.8%) were found to have posterior vitreous detachment, 30(14.7%) had retinal detachment, and vitreous hemorrhage was found in 8(3.9%) patients. Other findings, which amounted to 10(5%) cases, were asteroid hyalosis, vitritis, and posterior staphyloma. Regarding risk factors, most of the patients who had positive findings in the posterior segments of their eyes were either diabetic or hypertensive. A significant correlation existed between gender and cataract types; 57.5% of male patients were susceptible to TC. The study also highlighted that age groups of 41-60 years and above were more susceptible to posterior vitreous detachment, retinal detachment, and vitritis, while the younger age group (21-40) was susceptible to retinal detachment and posterior staphyloma. Conclusion: The findings indicate that males are more susceptible to the causes of TC than females of the same age. Detecting disorders like posterior vitreous detachment, retinal detachment, and vitreous hemorrhage preoperatively enhances surgical planning and patient counseling, thereby improving patient satisfaction and visual prognosis. B-scan US can serve as an important diagnostic tool for identifying hidden posterior segment lesions.