The authors evaluate a group of 53 eyes of 52 patients operated on account of retinal detachment with an oral dialysis. The mean follow-up period was 35 months. There were 37 (70%) traumatic dialyses.They were in the temporal lower quadrant in 58%, in the nasal upper quadrant in 16%, temporal upper quadrant in 13% and in the nasal lower quadrant in 13%. There were 16 (30%) idiopathic dialyses, all with one exception in the temporal upper quadrant, they were in the lower temporal quadrant. 52 eyes were operated primarily cryosurgically , one eye by pars plana vitrectomy. After primary surgery the retina adhered completely in 94% eyes. On account of relapses of detachment 9.4% eyes were reoperated. At the end of the follow up the retina adhered completely in 94% eyes. Functional improvement or stabilization of vision was achieved in 78% eyes with traumatic tears and in 87% eyes with idiopathic tears. The authors confirmed the existence of two different clinical entities - traumatic and idiopathic oral dialysis which differ as to site and to a certain extent also the prognosis of the disease.

        Key words: detachment of the retina, idiopathic oral dialysis, traumatic oral dialysis, cryosurgical procedure