The aim of our study is to evaluate the results of visual recovery after retinal detachment surgery with detached macula and to analyze factors that would influence these results. We carried out a retrospective study about 133 cases of reghmatogenous retinal detachment with detached macula. They were followed between 1990 and 1997 and had a primary classical surgery. The follow up was at least 6 months. The age of our patients varied from 9 to 79 years with an average of 43.8 years. Postoperatively, final visual acuity was equal or superior to 1/10 in 49.63% of cases. We analyzed the results of functional recovery according to the following factors: preoperative visual acuity, duration of detachment, patients history, area of detachment, break size, proliferative vitreoretinopathy stage and surgery factors (kind of buckling, subretinal fluid drainage and reoperations). We found a statistical significance between postoperative visual acuity and the following factors; preoperative visual acuity, duration and area of detachment, break size and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. It is essential to operate the patients with retinal detachment as early as possible in order to guarantee a better postoperative visual acuity. It is also important to incite patients with retinal detachment risk factors to consult in case of any ocular symptoms.