AIM:To examine the efficacy and safety of cryotherapy in the management of Fusarium corneal ulcer.

METHODS: Retrospective contract analysis of the clinical data of 41 patients(41 eyes)who infected with Fusarium corneal ulcer. All of them underwent focal lesion keratectomy combined with amniotic membrane transplantation between January 2010 and May 2013. The cryotherapy treatment group of 22 cases(22 eyes), non-cryotherapy group of 19 cases(19 eyes). All the cases were followed up for 3～12mo. We analyzed the healing of corneal ulcer, corneal neovascularization, postoperative visual acuity, complications and ulcer recurrences.

RESULTS: There were no significant difference for the two groups at the cure rate and the recovery rate, the corneal neovascularization and postoperative visual acuity(P>0.05). The total effective rate and corneal healing time in cryotherapy group was significantly higher than that in non-cryotherapy group(P<0.05). The postoperative visual acuity of two group were higher than that of preoperatively(P<0.05). There was no complication occurred in cryotherapy group while there was 1 patient of secondary glaucoma in non-cryotherapy group.

CONCLUSION: Cryotherapy is an effective and safe method for the treatment of Fusarium corneal ulcer.