[Surgical therapy of uveitis].

Cryotherapy is a good method of treating chronic uveitis, because it is minimally invasive and there are normally no complications. It has proved possible to reduce the frequency and intensity of inflammatory episodes, so that in many cases systemic drug therapy is superfluous. Stabilization or even regression of secondary conditions such as cystoid macular edema or cataract has been achieved, a phenomenon also observed among the present authors' own patients. In cases which did not respond to cryotherapy or where there were severe vitreous opacities vitrectomy was performed. A total of 207 eyes were followed up, on average for 1 1/2 years. During this time visual acuity remained stable or improved in 76% of those treated by cryotherapy, and in over 86% of those treated by vitrectomy.