What is Doppler ultrasound particularly helpful for?

Doppler ultrasound is particularly valuable for assessing blood flow dynamics within the body, and its application in ophthalmology is specifically aimed at evaluating blood flow in ocular structures, such as orbital blood vessels. By utilizing the Doppler effect, this ultrasound technique can provide important information about the velocity and direction of blood flow. This capability allows for the identification of abnormal flow patterns, which can be indicative of various ocular conditions, including vascular occlusions or other perfusion issues.

In contrast, measuring intraocular pressure does not rely on Doppler ultrasound but typically involves methods such as tonometry. Assessing the structure of the optic nerve is generally conducted through imaging techniques like optical coherence tomography (OCT) rather than Doppler. Detecting retinal detachment similarly involves different imaging modalities, such as fundus photography or ultrasound B-scan, rather than the Doppler technique, which is specifically focused on blood flow assessment. Thus, the unique capability of Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the hemodynamics of blood vessels is why it is particularly helpful in this context.