Retinal Cryotherapy (Cryopexy)
What is Retinal Cryotherapy?
Retinal cryotherapy is freezing treatment applied to the outside wall of the eye.
How is Retinal Cryotherapy performed?
Anaesthetic
In most cases eye drops plus a subconjunctival (under the surface layer over the white part of the eye) injection of anaesthetic provides sufficient anaesthesia. In some cases local (or rarely general) anaesthesia may be required.
Technique
A freezing probe makes contact with the outer wall of the eye. Gas cools the tip of the probe which causes freezing of a small part of the wall of the eye. Cryotherapy can be performed in the clinic or in hospital.
What conditions are treated with retinal cryotherapy?
Retinal cryotherapy is used most commonly to treat retinal tears, especially those located in the far periphery of the retina which can be challenging to treat with laser. It is also useful when the view into the back of the eye is obscured by blood or cataract which blocks the path of the laser light. It may be done on its own, in conjunction with laser, with injection of a gas bubble into the eye (pneumatic retinopexy), or in conjunction with vitreoretinal surgery.
Retinal cryotherapy can also be used to treat retinal vascular tumours.
Eye conditions we treat
Explore the range of eye conditions we can help manage and treat for better vision and eye health.