Factors influencing absorption of subretinal fluid.

In 200 cases of retinal detachment successfully treated without drainage of subretinal fluid complete reattachment of the retina was achieved in the first postoperative week in 76 per cent of cases. Delay in subretinal fluid absorption in the remaining 24 per cent of cases was directly related to the duration of the retinal detachment but was not influenced by the patient's age, refractive error, or the characteristics of the detachment.