Retinal surgery can be simple if the binocular indirect ophthalmoscope is mastered and certain surgical principles followed. Mastering the binocular indirect ophthalmoscope is described in step by step detail. Thereafter which eyes develop which sort of retinal detachment are discussed with special reference to the type and position of retinal breaks. Treatment emphasises that there is no such thing as a single retinal operation but rather a series of legitimate manoeuvres which may be used alone or in combination as the eye demands. To seek the simplest intervention that seals the retinal break(s) is the aim; to do so without closing off the central retinal artery is the art.