The case records were reviewed of 27 patients with chronic glaucoma after vitreoretinal surgery who underwent 28 cyclocryotherapy procedures between March 1987 and March 1992. The average intraocular pressure after 3 months was between 11.0 and 13.3 mmHg with an average fall of 24-26 mmHg. More than 85% had intraocular pressures of less than 21 mmHg after 3 months; 28% were hypotonic (IOP < 6 mmHg). Six months postoperatively, 68% maintained or had improved vision. The hypotonic eyes were found to have deterioration in vision more frequently than those with an intraocular pressure > 5 mmHg (57% compared with 24%). The odds of a hypotonic eye losing vision were 4.27 times greater than for a non-hypotonic eye. Cyclocryotherapy was successful in relief of pain in all 4 eyes which were painful pre-operatively.