To observe the eyeball wall using a high-frequency linear array probe, and to analyze different ultrasound manifestations of eyeball wall thickening.

This was a retrospective cross-sectional study in which eye color Doppler ultrasonography images obtained from September to October 2023 in Beijing Tongren Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. All images were obtained using a linear array probe, and the probe frequency was 4 to 20 MHz. The ultrasound manifestations of the eyeball wall were investigated. The ultrasound features of eyeball wall thickening were analyzed in combination with clinical diagnosis.

The imaging data of 10340 patients were included in this study. The normal eyeball wall showed strong echo on ultrasound, and the interlayer structures (the retina, choroid, and sclera) were difficult to distinguish. There were 139 patients (160 eyes) with thickened eyeball wall echo. Diseases that cause thickening of eyeball wall echo included diseases related to low intraocular pressure (such as ocular trauma, retinal detachment, postoperative low intraocular pressure, and old eye diseases) in 106 patients (109 eyes), microphthalmia in 10 (20 eyes), uveitis in 6 (10 eyes), posterior scleritis in 6 (7 eyes), endophthalmitis in 5 (5 eyes), diffuse choroidal hemangioma in 4 (7 eyes), choroidal metastasis in 1 (1 eye), and uveal lymphoma in 1 (1 eye). When there was echo showing that the eyeball wall thickened, the interlayer wall structure could be partially distinguished.

High-frequency linear array probe can be used to observe the eyeball wall. Thickening of the eyeball wall is more common in diseases involving the choroid, sclera, and Tenon's capsule. These diseases can be differentially diagnosed by combining different ultrasound manifestations.