Cryotherapy for trichiasis in trachoma.

Trichiasis secondary to trachoma was treated in 137 eyelids from 64 patients in Saudi Arabia. Cryotherapy with high-flow nitrous oxide was applied to the lid margin for 45 seconds in a freeze-thaw-freeze cycle. The success rate of treated eyelids was 56% after one treatment and increased to 90% after a second treatment. Hypopigmentation of the highly pigmented eyelids of the Saudi population was our most significant complication (8% of treated lids). Because cryotherapy is portable and cost-effective and can be administered by paramedical personnel, it is ideal for use in regions where trachoma is endemic.