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Monday, July 3, 2017

The Important Role of MRI Scans in Diagnosing Certain Eye Disorders

More often than not, ophthalmologists are able to make diagnoses on particular eye conditions based on physical signs and symptoms alone. There are instances, however, that a thorough analysis of a patient’s eye is necessary to identify the main cause of their eye problems.

Here, imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging becomes an indispensable diagnostic tool. Though it’s one of the two main imaging modalities used for ophthalmology purposes, MRI poses better benefits for the patient.


Analyzing the Eyes with MRI

Unlike traditional imaging methods, MRI makes use of magnetic fields and radio waves to analyze biological tissues and provide a detailed image of the patient’s orbital soft tissues and brain. MRI relies on the interaction of hydrogen atoms with an intense magnetic field generated by the scanner. Through this interaction, the scanner can produce better images and highlight potential problems that other imaging methods might miss.

Since MRI offers a wide imaging view and an enhanced visualization of the neural tissue, MRI scans are often used for neuro-ophthalmic evaluations, as it provides better visualization of the cranial and intraorbital nerves. As it also provides an enhanced definition between different soft tissues, MRI is also seen to be advantageous in diagnosing multiple sclerosis, tumors, early-onset cerebrovascular accidents, infection, and inflammation.


The Future of MRI

In practice, there are three MRI techniques used to scan the eyes: proton density, T1- and T2-weighted sequences. There are, however, newer methodologies that further opens better possibilities in diagnosing eye problems through MRI scans. As it stands, MRI can be safely obtained from trusted facilities.



Sources:

Neuroimaging in ophthalmology, ScienceDirect.com
Neuroimaging 101 For the Optometrist, ReviewOfOptometry.com

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