Objective To evaluate the efficacy and its affecting factors of silicone oil as an introocular tamponade for copmlicated retinal detachments in children(le;14 years). Methods We analysed retrospectively 34 cases(36 eyes) of complicated retinal detachments in children, who were performed with pars plana vitrectomy combined with silicone oil tamponade from June 1993 to November 1997. Results After 3-21 months of follow-up, the detached retinas in 19 eyes(52.7%) were reattached, in 10 eyes(27.8%) partially reattached and in 6 eyes (16.7%) redetached, 1 eye(2.8) had a media opacity that precluded evaluation of the retina. Postoperative visual acuity was less than 0.05 in 12 eyes(33.3%), and 0.05-0.2 in 20 eyes(55.6%), 2 cases(4 eyes) could not tell their visions(11.1%). Conclusion Silicone oil tamponade is an effctive therapy for complicated retinal detachments in children. The major cause of surgical fai;ure was development of recurrent proliferative vetrioretinopathy. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1999,15:7-8)