Procedures & Services > Treatment Options > Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is a treatment option for retinal tears and holes. After the patient is given a topical or local anesthetic, a freezing probe is applied to the surface of the eye over the point of the tear or hole. The extreme cold penetrates to the retina and freezes only the area around the tear or hole. As the frozen area heals, scar tissue forms and attaches the retinal layers together at the edges of the tear or hole. The patent will feel slight discomfort during the procedure if given a topical anesthetic; if the patient is given a local anesthetic, discomfort may occur after the anesthetic wears off.