Figure 2a. Natural history of untreated retinal detachment. (a) Drawing shows a retinal tear (straight arrow) with accumulation of subretinal fluid (curved arrow) beneath the detached sensory retina. (b) Drawing shows the globe affected by long-term detachment and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Note the extensive retraction of the sensory retina from the underlying retinal pigment epithelium as a result of contraction of scar tissue. (c) Drawing shows phthisis bulbi. Note the shrunken globe with associated scleral thickening.