Peripheral retinal cryopexy for subtotal vitreous hemorrhage.

We used peripheral retinal cryopexy to treat 20 eyes in 15 patients with subtotal vitreous hemorrhage secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. In 18 eyes, complete panretinal photocoagulation had been performed before the subtotal vitreous hemorrhage and the subsequent cryopexy. The length of follow-up averaged 16 months. The vitreous hemorrhage completely cleared in 11 eyes (55%) and partially cleared in six eyes (30%). Visual acuity after treatment improved in 13 eyes (65%), remained unchanged in six eyes (30%), and decreased in one eye (5%).