INTRODUCTION: Lessons from History; Terminology; BASIC CONSIDERATIONS: Anatomic Factors of Surgical Importance; Pathogenesis of Nontraumatic Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment; Classification of Nontraumatic Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment; Pathogenesis of Traumatic Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment; EXAMINATION, DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS, AND MEDICAL MANAGEMENT: Methods of Examination, Standard Peripheral Fundus and Its Variations; Vitreous Changes in Rhegmatous Retinal Detachment; Retinal Changes Observed in Retinal Detachment; Differential Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment; Preoperative Evaluation and Preparation of Patients for Vitreoretinal Surgery; Anesthesia for Vitreoretinal Surgery; GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS OF PRIMARY RETINAL DETACHMENT: Basic Considerations of Preoperative Patient Mangement and Technical Aspects of Chorioretinal Adhesion; Prophylaxis of Retinal Detachment; SURGERY OF PRIMARY DETACHMENTS: Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment; Philosophy of Retinal Detachment Management; Vitreoretinal Tractional Forces: Special Situations and Methods of Management; Reoperations; PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY: Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy; Giant Retinal Tears; Macular Breaks and Other Macular Changes; Retinoschisis; Vitreoretinopathies; Retinal Detachment Associated with Optic Nerve Anomalies; Retinal Detachment in the Pediatric Population; Managing the Crystalline Lens and Intraocular Lenses; Retinal Detachment Associated with Uveitis; Choroidal Detachment; Nonrhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments Caused by Tumors; Nonrhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment from Other Causes; Surgical Indications for Retinal Detachment Associated with Diabetic Eye Disease; Other Traction Retinal Detachments; TRAUMA: Evaluation of the Traumatized Eye; Trauma Classification and Management; VITREOUS SUBSTITUTES: Vitreous Substitutes; COMPLICATIONS AFTER RETINAL SURGERY AND THEIR MANAGEMENT: Complications.