[Forty years' contemporary retinal detachment surgery (author's transl)]

A survey is given on the evolution of retinal detachment surgery during the past four decades. Contributions of the ophthalmological school of Vienna are particularly considered. The review includes simple diathermy-coagulation with subretinal drainage, the undermining operation of Lindner and his eye ball shortening procedure, the combined operation (sealing of retinal breaks by diathermy plus scleral resection), and vitreous tamponade using sodium hyaluronate. All these methodes have been widely replaced during the past years by cryopexy with plombage, and by encircling procedures. Though the rate of success could not be definitely increased, the introduction of the modern methods implies technical facilities for the eye surgeon, and advances for the treated patients. The evolution of retinal detachment surgery is not yet terminated, and further progress can be taken as granted. Retinal detachment surgery with very short hospitalization may become practicable in near future.