Abstract

AbstractClinical indications for use of cryotherapy and photocoagulation in the management of certain retinal problems are presented. Results of diathermy and cryotherapy in treatment of retinal detachment vary little. For retinal tears without subretinal fluid, location of the tear in relation to the equator determines whether cryotherapy or photocoagulation is indicated. Cryotherapy is used more conveniently in conjunction with scleral buckling to produce the chorioretinal reaction. For blood vessels torn because they were bridging or involved in a retinal tear, photocoagulation is the method of choice. Other indications for photocoagulation include reinforcement of a buckle or sealing a hole leaking on a buckle, degenerative areas posterior to the equator in the eye opposite a retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, persistent central serous retinopathy, histoplasmosic para central chorioretinitis, and von Hippel's angiomatosis retinae. Although admittedly controversial, other suggested indications for cryotherapy include early Coat's disease, peripheral uveitis or pars planitis, retinoblastoma in the remaning eye, and in degenerative areas anterior to the equator in the eye opposite a retinal detachment.