First, I wish to apologize for the presumptuousness of the title of this paper. I am fully aware of the fact that the function of the reattached retina is almost as complex a problem as the function of the normal retina. It will therefore require considerable work on the part of physiologists, psychologists and ophthalmologists to define exactly how well a reattached retina functions after it has been detached for some time.
Until the problem of the function of the reattached retina is solved scientifically—which will take considerable time because of the relative scarcity of adequate material—there is need for a plausible, workable idea in regard the probable functional outcome of an operation for retinal detachment before it can be recommended to the patient. It is true that in cases of partial but progressive detachment, even an anatomic cure or a reattachment without any return of function is a gain.