Value and limitations of cyclocryotherapy.

We studied a consecutive series of 114 eyes of 102 patients that were treated with cyclocryotherapy by one surgeon. Intraocular pressure reduction sufficient to avoid further surgical intervention was achieved in two-thirds of the cases. However, the postoperative visual acuity was worse than the preoperative level in 60% of the cases, and 12% of the eyes developed phthisis. Factors which influenced these results included the type of glaucoma and the age of the patient. Eyes with neovascular glaucoma had the worst results, while those having glaucoma in aphakia without neovascular glaucoma had the most favorable response to cyclocryotherapy. Findings further showed that younger patients required more cryotherapy to achieve pressure reduction. Phthisis developed significantly more often following initial treatments than in eyes undergoing one or more repeat cyclocryotherapy procedures.