Use of Ocular Point of Care Ultrasound in Diagnosing Retinal Detachment in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Study.

This is a prospective, cross-sectional study to assess the utility of point of care ultrasound in the diagnosis of ocular complaints in the emergency department (ED) with specific focus on the accuracy of diagnosis when compared to that of a blinded ophthalmologist. Ocular complaints represent between 2% and 3% of ED visits (Walker et al, 2011). This percentage may include vision-threatening diagnoses including retinal detachment, which can occur in 3-4% of patients presenting with ocular complaints (Alotaibi et al, 2011). However, the equipment and expertise required to adequately assess for conditions such as retinal detachment are limited in busy emergency departments due to the time consuming and challenging nature of the examination. Incorporating the use of an ultrasound could provide a more available, focused, and timely assessment.