Retinal detachment surgery without cryotherapy.

The authors have performed 43 retinal detachment operations omitting the use of cryotherapy or any other type of retinal adhesion. Only a full thickness buckling procedure has been performed with drainage of subretinal fluid in some cases. The cases were carefully selected and the follow-up period has been from 1 to 3 1/2 years. Redetachment has not occurred if the original hole was free of traction (round holes) but has so far occurred in 3 cases where traction was present.