Effect of preoperative posture and binocular occlusion on retinal detachment.

In an unselected series of retinal detachments a 24-hour period of binocular occlusion and posture with a retinal hole dependent produces some resolution of subretinal fluid in 13% of cases. If only patients with acute, freely mobile detachments and retinal holes above the horizontal meridian were selected the proportion of detachments showing some resolution rose to 30%. In 8% of cases a paradoxical response occurred, the detachment increasing in depth or extending to involve an additional area of retina.