Closed vitrectomy, membrane peeling, intraocular air tamponade and scleral encircling were performed for 35 consecutive cases of retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), comprising 2 cases of grade C2, 4 cases of grade C3, 6 cases of grade D1, 17 cases of grade D2, and 6 cases of grade D3. 21 eyes (60%) attained anatomic retinal reattachment with improved visual acuity in 20 eyes. The authors believed that vitrectomy combined with membrane peeling was a logical approach to the treatment of retinal detachment with PVR. The surgical success was related to the extent of membrane peeling, and intraocular air tamponade was a simple and effective adjunctive measure.