Retinal surgery with implantation of silicone oil was performed in 33 patients presenting with idiopathic or traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Following removal of the oil patients were on average followed-up for 6 to 29 months (14 months). Sixteen patients had had buckling procedures prior to endosurgery. Improvement of vision up to 4 rows of optotypes was noted in 21 patients following silicone oil removal. Three cases showed a large, organic, central scotoma. Ten patients suffered from diplopia; 3 of whom were known to have had a preexisting strabismus. Suppression of the visual impression of the operated eye was seen in 4 cases. Eye muscle surgery was necessary in 4 cases. Sixteen patients demonstrated normal binocular vision as far as possible taking the visual acuity into account.