Active immobilization of the eye in the treatment of retinal detachment.

40 eyes with retinal detachment were immobilized by traction sutures under the inferior and medial rectus muscles in order to study the rate of "spontaneous" reattachment following such fixation. There was an almost complete reattachment in 45% of cases, and partial reattachment (at least half of the detached area) in 40%. Little or no reattachment was observed in 15% of cases. Reattachment of the retina prior to the operation is considered advantageous for the success of surgery.