Scleral buckling with soft silicone sponge and lamellar scleral dissection

One hundred cases of primary, nontraumatic, rhegmatogenous retinal separation were operated upon using 1/2 thickness 7.5 mp Silastic silicone sponge as a circumferential implant without an encircling element or suture tension. The use of this method has given 100% successful anatomical reattachment of the retina after a follow-up of 8 months to 3 1/2 years.