Hydrophilic polymer networks (hydrogels) are potentially useful scleral buckling materials for retinal detachment surgery. The swelling characteristics of three hydrogels in free solution and within a confined tissue space in vivo are described. The compressibility (compliance) of PGMA [poly (glyceryl methacrylate)] 12:1, PGMA 5:1, and PHEMA [poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)] at various levels of hydration and the clinical effects and biologic tolerance of scleral bucklings obtained with hydrogels were studied.