Indirect treatment of peripheral retinal neovascularization.

Indirect (scatter) cryotherapy and photocoagulation treatments successfully obliterated peripheral neovascularization in patients with sickle cell retinopathy and talc retinopathy. Fifteen of 17 neovascular fronds in seven eyes of five patients were obliterated. This type of treatment is analogous to panretinal photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy. Because low energy levels are used, indirect treatment of peripheral neovascularization may be a safe and effective alternative to focal treatment of feeder vessels.