This approach is pragmatic and means that the patient only undergoes an operation at such time as they have developed symptoms. This means that many patients with an asymptomatic detachment would never need to undergo an operation.

The downside of this is that if the detachment progresses to involve macula, that is the central part of the vision, then it may not be possible, even despite surgery, to return the vision of the eye to normal. Most people who receive prompt treatment after the macula is involved in a retinal detachment will recover reasonable, but not normal vision. Up to 95% of normal vision is possible, and most people will consider their sight to be 70 to 80% of normal.