Materials and Methods: The medical records of sixteen eyes of eight patients with simultaneous bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment between January 1994- May 2006 were on olysed retroupectively. Six patients (75%) were male and two were (25%) female. One (6.2%) of 16 eyes with closed funnel detachment was considered inoperable.

Results: The mean follow-up was 29.0±43.54 months (Range, 6-138 months). The mean age was 44.87±26.42 years (Range, 12-73 years). All of the eyes underwent encircling band surgery. Three patients had simultaneous bilateral operations under general anesthesia (at the same time). The interval between surgery of the first and second eye was one day in one patient and five days in three patients. Pars plana vitrectomy was performed in addition to encircling band in three patients (20%). Retina was attached in 14 of 15 eyes (93.3%) at the last visit. Phythisis bulbi was developed in one eye (6.7%).

Conclusion: Simultaneous bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment was rarely seen. The fellow eye of every patient with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in one eye should be examined carefully. In certain conditions, both eyes of the patients with simultaneous bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment may be operated at the same day. It is important to decide which eye should be operated first if the surgery will be done in seperate sessions. Keywords : Retinal detachment, encircling band surgery, vitreoretinal surgery