Treatment of pars planitis with cryotherapy

Cryotherapy was performed on 28 eyes exhibiting massive exudates (snowbank) over the pars plana and the ora serrata. Twenty-six patients ranging in age from 8 to 52 years were treated and then followed up for a median of 34 months. Eleven eyes needed repeat cryotherapy. After cryotherapy, retinal vasculitis and vitreous opacities decreased in most eyes. Although only 3 of 5 eyes with a snowbank greater than 90 degrees and treated over 1 year from the onset achieved visual acuity of 20/25 or better, all 12 eyes with a snowbank smaller than 60 degrees and treated within 3 months after the onset maintained a visual acuity of 20/25 or better. The prognosis was not different from the 20 eyes that received systemic steroid treatment and the 8 eyes that received no systemic steroids. We recommend cryotherapy as the primary treatment for pars planitis with a snowbank.