Cyclodialysis cleft treatment using a minimally invasive technique

To report a case of a cyclodialysis cleft that was successfully managed with gas endotamponade and cyclocryotherapy.

A 37-year-old male victim of a severe blunt ocular trauma was referred to our service for evaluation and treatment of a left eye hypotony. Clinical examination revealed an intraocular pressure of 2 mm Hg, a cyclodialysis cleft extending from the 11 to 1 o'clock positions and a hypotonic maculopathy. Left eye best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 3/10. The patient failed to respond to conservative treatment with atropine 1%, so a single bubble of 16% C2F6 was injected into the vitreous cavity, followed by superior quadrant transconjunctival cyclocryotherapy.

After gas absorption, the intraocular pressure increased to 11 mm Hg and became steady during the 24 months of follow-up. His hypotonic maculopathy resolved, and the BCVA improved to 9/10. Complete closure of the cyclodialysis cleft was documented with ultrasound biomicroscopy.

Cryotherapy associated with gas endotamponade is a minimally invasive technique that could be considered for patients with cyclodialysis clefts that fail to respond to medical therapy.