The incidence of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in the European population is approximately 10 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year and reaches a peak in the 6th and 7th decades of life, mostly in atemporal association with posterior vitreous body detachment. Known risk factors include myopia and higher axial length of the eye, male gender, previous trauma and vitreoretinal degeneration or dystrophy. In recent years, an increase in the risk of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment following cataract surgery was also found, especially after capsule rupture and vitreous body loss. In contrast to clear lens extraction (CLE), the refractive intervention of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) does not seem to increase the risk of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Retinal detachment stabilizes during physical protection and posturing but progresses through bodily activity and during interruptions in patients with macula-on retinal detachment.