What is retinal cryopexy?
Retinal cryopexy is a procedure performed in the office or operating room designed to treat retinal problems. The name, cryo, comes from a Greek word meaning icy cold. This procedure utilizes the freezing effect to treat damaged retina.
How is retinal cryopexy performed?
After the eye has been anesthetized, a pencil-like probe is gently pressed against the eye. The cryo machine, activated by a foot pedal, cools the tip of the cryo probe. The freezing effect is conducted through the eye wall to the retina. The procedure takes several minutes to perform.
What conditions may require retinal cryopexy?
Retinal cryopexy is used to treat abnormal or damaged retinal tissue. The most common condition requiring retinal cryopexy is a retinal tear. Retinal tears threaten loss of vision from retinal detachment. Retinal cryopexy is used to make the retinal tear adhere to the inner eye wall. Retinal cryopexy is preferred over laser to treat retinal tears in attached retina when cataract or vitreous hemorrhage obscures the view of the retina and blocks the path of laser light.
Other conditions that are occasionally treated with cryopexy include diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, Coats disease, neovascular glaucoma, pars planitis, retinopathy of prematurity, tumors, and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR).
What are the risks of retinal cryopexy?
While cryopexy is generally safe, there are risks to consider. The most common adverse effects include redness, swelling, bruising, tearing, and pain after the procedure. Sometimes, cryopexy does not prevent retinal detachment, and more surgery is needed at a future date. Severe complications are rare and include infection, bleeding, scarring, deformity, blindness, deformity, and loss of the eye. When cryopexy is recommended, the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks.
What is expected after retinal cryopexy?
An eye patch may be placed over the eye after the procedure and prescription eye drops may soothe the eye after the patch has been removed. For several days after retinal cryopexy, the eyelids may appear swollen. Tearing and achiness is common for several days. The white of the eye may be red for a week or two. Over-the-counter pain medications often help improve comfort. Cryopexy will not prevent distortion of vision due to macular pucker that sometimes develops after retinal tears.
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