Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Introduction: Ocular ultrasound is highly effective for diagnosing traumatic eye injuries such as retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, foreign bodies, and retrobulbar hematomas. However, it is contraindicated in cases of suspected globe rupture, as applying external pressure to the eye could cause further damage. When globe injury is clinically suspected, computed tomography is typically used to confirm the diagnosis. However, delays can occur if other life-threatening injuries require immediate attention or there are long wait times. We propose a novel method for performing ocular ultrasound in such cases—the modified water bath technique—which allows for the diagnosis of globe rupture upon the patient’s arrival in the emergency department.

Case Series: We present five cases where the modified water bath technique was used. A glove partially filled with saline is prepared and gently placed on the affected eye while the patient lies supine. A small amount of gel is applied to a high-frequency linear probe, which is then positioned transversely on the glove. An ocular scan is then conducted in dual mode to compare both eyes. 

Conclusion: This method produces clear, well-defined images and offers the advantage of being performed bedside immediately. This eliminates diagnostic delays and allows for prompt initiation of treatment. Additionally, the high-quality images provided by this technique can be used to diagnose other eye emergencies through ultrasound.