This technique has been successful with the administration of 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, and, most recently, arginine butyrate. If the intraocular pressure remains elevated after a judicious trial of medical therapy, surgical intervention with an anterior chamber lavage is indicated. Modalities to treat PSR include diathermy, cryotherapy, xenon arc photocoagulation, and argon laser photocoagulation. Diathermy is used infrequently because of the high incidence of complications accompanying this procedure. Triple-freeze thaw has a high complication rate.
Single thaw is used to treat peripheral vitreous hemorrhage in the presence of vitreous hemorrhage.
Xenon arc and argon laser photocoagulation have been used to treat either the peripheral neovascularization or the feeder vessels to the neovascularization. Ocular treatment is directed toward preventing vision loss from vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and epiretinal membranes. Because of potential complications from photocoagulation and the tendency for regression, patients older than 40 years probably do not require treatment. Complications of photocoagulation include choroidal neovascularization, retinal breaks, and peripheral choroidal ischemia. Surgical procedures include treatments for retinal detachments, nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage, and epiretinal membranes.