Objective To summarize the visual outcome of patients with severe ocular trauma treated with vitreous surgery. Methods Clinical data of 188(191 eyes) with severe ocular trauma treated with vitreous surgery in a period from November 1996 to April 1998 were analysed retrospectively. Results The study included penetrating injury in 56 eyes, foreign bodies in the posterior segment in 70 eyes, blunt injury in 41 eyes , and globe rupture in 24 eyes. Main complications included endophthalmitis in 35 eyes, choroidal bleeding in 20 eyes, retinal detachment in 60 eyes, and vitreous hemorrhage in 97 eyes. Post-opera-tively, out of 188 eyes, except for 3 of patients too young to examine, visual acuity improved in 133(70.7%), including 85(45.2%) with visal acuity 0.02-1.0, 46(24.5%) remained unchanged; and 9(4.8%) had worse vision. Among 34 with no-light-perception, 12 had light-perception or over. Conclusion A majority of severe trauma eyes can be salvaged with considerable visual recovery after adequate and timely vitreous surgery. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1999,15:4-6)