Objective To verify the significance of the morphological changes of the macula and its relationship to visual function by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) after scleral buckling procdure. Methods The macula of retinae of 68 patients (70 eyes) with reattached retinae after scleral buckling operation for retinal detachment were examined by OCT to scan the macula through fovea vertically and horizontally. Results Among the 70 eyes, 22 eyes revealed normal macula with thickness of neurosensory retina meant (146.47±20.59)μm. In the other 48 eyes (68.60%) with abnormal macula, 19 eyes showed extensive subretinal interspace, 9 eyes showed local subretinal interspace, 8 eyes showed macula edema, 4 eyes showed thin macula, 4 eyes showed subretinal proliferation and 4 eye showed epiretinal membrane over macula. In the normal macular structure group under the OCT, the visual acuity (VA) of the operated eyes was more than 0.3 in 6 eyes 2 weeks after operation and in 14 eyes 3 mons after operation. In the macula edema group, the VA was more than 0.3 in 1 eye 2 weeks after opoeration and 2 eyes 3 mons after operation. In the subretinal interspace group, the VA was more than 0.3 in 5 eyes 2 weeks after operation and in 23 eyes 3 mons after operation. The proportions of the numbers of operated eyes with the VA more than 0.3 after 3 mons of the operation in macular normal group subretinal interspace group and other macular disease group were significantly different (χ2=18.91, P＜0.01). Conclusion OCT can precisely detect the structural changes of macula after retinal reattachment and assess visual function after surgery of retinal detachment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 266-268)