Retinal detachment: is reparative surgery always mandatory?

The author reports 16 cases of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in which, for a variety of reasons, immediate reparative surgery was not carried out. To date, one-half of these cases have not been operated, and four have been followed for 6 years or longer. No case suffered visual loss because of the delay in surgery, nor has chronic inflammation, glaucoma, or rubeosis been a problem. The clinical characteristics of this group of cases is defined.