Cryotherapy consists of the transmission of freezing temperatures to the retina, by applying a very cold probe to the outside of the eye (the sclera).
Like a laser, the intense cold applied to the retina can seal abnormal retinal tears and leaking retinal blood vessels. Cryotherapy may be used to treat retinal tears, small retinal detachments, tumors, vascular lesions, and different retinopathies. It may also be combined with pneumatic retinopexy for treatment of certain types of retinal detachments. This treatment is also helpful when there is a vitreous hemorrhage or when a cataract obscures light reception.
