In a series of 32 eyes, the elevation of the scleral buckle was measured by means of A-scan echo-oculometry at the end of retinal detachment surgery, 6 and 10 h later, and 2, 3, 4, 8, 14, and 21 days after cryopexy and plombage with a 5 mm diameter silicon sponge. Subretinal drainage was applied in 50% of the cases. In more than 50% maximal indentation was found 2 days postoperatively; in less than 50%, 3 days postoperatively. Statistically significant, this maximum appeared earlier in cases with subretinal drainage than in cases without drainage. The highest elevation of the buckle persisted from one to two weeks and decreased during the third week.