Cryotherapy uses freezing or near-freezing temperatures to seal retinal tears, reduce swelling, and prevent the progression of retinal conditions. Though lesser known than laser therapy, this option has shown efficacy against conditions like retinal detachment and diabetic retinopathy.
Read on to find out how cryotherapy works and when your retina specialist might recommend it.
What Is Retinal Cryotherapy (Cryopexy)?
The term “cryotherapy” is Greek in origin, with “cryo” meaning cold or freezing. In retinal care, cryotherapy involves the controlled application of extreme cold to treat specific eye conditions. This technique uses a small probe to reach low temperatures and establish a controlled freezing effect on targeted eye tissues.
Unlike laser-based therapy, which uses heat to treat the retina, cryotherapy freezes tissue. Both approaches have advantages and work best depending on the condition needing treatment and other factors specific to each patient’s situation.
How Cryotherapy Works for Retinal Conditions
Acting as the eye’s internal film, the retina captures light and translates it into electrical impulses for the brain. When retinal conditions develop, cryotherapy may help through the following:
- Create controlled adhesion: The freezing process causes inflammation, which leads to scarring that helps seal the retina to the underlying tissue in cases of retinal tears or detachments.
- Destroy abnormal tissue: The extreme cold can selectively destroy abnormal cells or tissues while allowing healthy tissue to heal.
- Seal blood vessels: Cryotherapy can help close leaking or abnormal blood vessels in certain conditions.
- Access hard-to-reach areas: In some cases, cryotherapy can treat parts of the retina that laser therapy cannot reach, including areas blocked by cataracts or bleeding.
Common Retinal Conditions Treated with Cryotherapy
Retina specialists use cryotherapy for several conditions:
Retinal Tears and Detachment
A torn retina can pull away from its underlying support tissue. Known as retinal detachment, this medical emergency can cause permanent blindness if not addressed right away. Laser therapy is usually the first choice for retinal tears, but a doctor may recommend cryotherapy when:
- The tear is in a peripheral area difficult to reach with a laser
- Clouding of the eye’s natural lens or intraocular hemorrhage (bleeding) makes it difficult to use laser therapy
- The doctor cannot adequately dilate the patient’s pupil for laser treatment.
The freezing action creates inflammation followed by scarring that helps secure the retina to the underlying tissue, effectively sealing the tear and preventing fluid from entering through the break.
Retinopathy of Prematurity
This condition affects premature infants whose retinal blood vessels haven’t fully developed. In some cases, cryotherapy may treat the peripheral retina, reducing signals that encourage abnormal blood vessel growth. However, laser therapy has largely replaced cryotherapy as the preferred treatment for this condition.
Retinal Tumors
For retinoblastoma or small tumors on the retina, cryotherapy can destroy abnormal tissue. This treatment works well for certain retinal tumors because it helps preserve as much healthy tissue as possible.
Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy
Cryoplex can be an alternative for proliferative diabetic retinopathy cases where bleeding or cataracts block laser treatment. For example, if a patient has advanced diabetic eye disease with significant hemorrhaging, laser therapy may fail to reach the retina. In such cases, doctors use cryotherapy to freeze and shrink abnormal blood vessels, minimizing the risk of further bleeding. This approach helps stabilize vision when traditional laser treatment isn’t an option.
What to Expect During a Cryotherapy Procedure
If your retina specialist recommends cryotherapy, here’s what you can expect:
- Doctors perform the procedure in an office or an outpatient surgical center
- They use local anesthesia to keep you comfortable
- The treatment usually lasts 30–45 minutes
- A special, virtually painless instrument holds your eye open during the procedure
- A small probe touches the sclera above the affected retina
- You may feel pressure and a cold sensation during the treatment
- Doctors may apply multiple freeze-thaw cycles for the best results
Following the procedure, your eye may be red and uncomfortable for several days. You might experience:
- Mild to moderate discomfort
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Temporary blurring of vision
- A sensation of something in your eye
Your retina specialist may prescribe eye drops to soothe inflammation and prevent infection, as well as recommend pain relievers for comfort. Most patients can go back to their normal routine within a few days, though you should follow your doctor’s post-treatment instructions.
Cryotherapy vs. Laser Therapy
Cryotherapy and laser therapy treat retinal conditions but work in different ways, each suited for specific cases.
Cryotherapy advantages:
- Doctors typically perform cryotherapy when media opacities (e.g., a thick cataract or eye bleeding) obstruct laser treatment
- May be better for reaching far peripheral retinal areas
- Creates a stronger adhesion in some cases
- Does not require a widely dilated pupil
Laser therapy advantages:
- Generally less uncomfortable during and after treatment
- More precisely controlled treatment areas
- Typically causes less inflammation
- Often preferred for treatments near the center of vision
Your retinal specialist will recommend the most appropriate treatment based on the severity of your retinal condition, its location, and other factors unique to your case.
Potential Side Effects and Considerations
While cryotherapy is generally safe and effective, it’s important to understand the possible side effects, which can include:
- Temporary discomfort and pain
- Swelling of the eye and eyelids
- Temporary blurring of vision
- Inflammation inside the eye
- In rare cases, increased eye pressure
The freezing effect of cryotherapy creates more inflammation than laser treatment, which is both its advantage (creating stronger adhesion) and its disadvantage (causing more discomfort and temporary visual disturbance). Your ophthalmologist or retina specialist in Sun City, AZ, will explain what to expect based on your recommended treatment plan.
What to Talk About with a Retina Specialist
Before deciding to proceed with cryotherapy, discuss its pros and cons with your eye doctor. A comprehensive examination will help determine whether cryotherapy is the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
During your consultation, your doctor should explain:
- Why cryotherapy might be better for you than laser therapy or other treatments
- What results you can realistically expect
- Risks and benefits specific to your situation
- What the recovery process is like
Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns and inquire about alternatives, expected outcomes, and recovery time. Being well-informed will help you approach your treatment without doubts and regrets.
Is retinal cryotherapy right for you? Call 623-474-3937 to explore your treatment options with our Arizona Retinal Specialists.
