Prevention of aphakic retinal detachment by retinocryocoagulation.

A retrospective study of 36 second eyes with cataract, who have undergone prophylactic retinocryocoagulation prior to cataract extraction, is presented. All 36 patients suffered an aphakic retinal detachment in the first eye in the past. Postoperative complications included iritis, transient cycloplegia and retinal hemorrhages; two patients developed retinal tears following cataract surgery. During the average followup period of 8.4 years, no retinal detachment occurred among this group of patients. This study strongly supports the value of preventive treatment (retinocryocoagulation) of the second eyes prior to cataract extraction, which have a high risk of aphakic retinal detachment.