Cyclocryotherapy for chronic glaucoma after vitreoretinal surgery

The case records were reviewed of 27 patients with chronic glaucoma after vitreoretinal surgery who underwent 28 cyclocryotherapy procedures between March 1987 and March 1992. The average intraocular pressure after 3 months was between 11.0 and 13.3 mmHg with an average fall of 24-26 mmHg. More than 85% had intraocular pressures of less than 21 mmHg after 3 months; 28% were hypotonic (IOP < 6 mmHg). Six months postoperatively, 68% maintained or had improved vision. The hypotonic eyes were found to have deterioration in vision more frequently than those with an intraocular pressure > 5 mmHg (57% compared with 24%). The odds of a hypotonic eye losing vision were 4.27 times greater than for a non-hypotonic eye. Cyclocryotherapy was successful in relief of pain in all 4 eyes which were painful pre-operatively.