[Peripheral retinal cryocoagulation. Long-term outcome].
Peripheral retinal cryotherapy alone, without additional cyclocryotherapy, can for the short term lead to intraocular pressure reduction and regression of neovascularization. As there is little information concerning the long-term results of this treatment we reexamined all patients treated with peripheral retinal cryotherapy at the Department of Ophthalmology at Freiburg University between 1979 and 1990.


METHODS
Neovascularization was secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 33 eyes (65%), secondary to retinal vascular occlusion in 13 eyes (25%), and secondary to a combination of both in 5 eyes (10%). Usually, 2 quadrants of each eye were treated with 9 applications per quadrant.


RESULTS
Intraocular pressure was adequately reduced in 49% of the eyes and rubeosis iridis regressed in 57%. Visual acuity deteriorated in 53% of all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Intraocular pressure and rubeosis iridis can in the long term successfully be treated with peripheral retinal cryotherapy. Despite good intraocular pressure control and regression of rubeosis iridis visual acuity does not improve.
Knapp
C
C
Universitäts-Augenklinik Freiburg.
Funk
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003452:Cryosurgery; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000601:surgery*