Thirty-three cases of complicated retinal detachment were treated by intravitreal silicone injection usually as an adjunct to scleral buckling and light coagulation. Nine eyes were reattached in the posterior pole at the end of six months; five were reattached at the end of three years. Only two patients maintained their six-month acuity for the three years. The other seven eyes terminated in blindness, light perception, or count fingers acuity. This visual deterioration was due to recurrent detachment, cataract formation with unfavorable sequelae after extraction, or continued vitreal and preretinal organization. Evaluation of surgical therapy in such complicated detachments requires a follow-up longer than six months; on this basis and in such cases, silicone retinopiesis is of limited value.