What is the Utility of Point-of-care Ultrasound for Diagnosing Retinal Detachment?

Background Retinal detachment is an important condition for emergency physicians to be aware of, as it can be challenging to diagnose on physical examination alone and, if it is missed, can lead to vision loss. Ultrasound has demonstrated utility in diagnosis. Clinical Question What is the utility of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for diagnosing retinal detachment? Evidence Review Studies retrieved included three systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating the use of POCUS for diagnosing retinal detachment. These studies provide estimates of the potential utility of POCUS, with a sensitivity of 94-100% and specificity of 83-100%, positive likelihood ratios ranging from approximately 12-25, and negative likelihood ratios ranging from 0.06-0.25. Conclusion Based upon the available literature, POCUS by emergency clinicians can reliably diagnose retinal detachment.