PURPOSE. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the visual function of eyes operated on for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. METHODS. Fifteen patients were studied suffering from peripheral retinal detachment treated with the Lincoff-Custodis method. Visual field was tested with the Humphrey Field Analyzer and the analyzer program 30-2, which scanned a 0 degrees -30 degrees field. The multifocal ERG was recorded with the VERIS III (Visual Evoked Imaging System, Tomey, Nagoya, Japan). RESULTS. There was great loss of retinal response densities in the area of retinal detachment (1.3 +/- 0.7 nV/deg(2)). However, a decrease in retinal response densities was also recorded in the reattached retina (6.90 +/- 0.7 nV/deg(2)). CONCLUSIONS. MFERG is an objective tool for monitoring the functional abnormalities affecting the vision of eyes operated for retinal detachment.