Retinal detachment after cataract extraction occurred in nine out of 136 eyes with myopia of 6 or more dioptress (6-7 per cent), during a follow-up period of 1 1/2-9 1/2 years. Five of the nine detachments occurred within 3 months of cataract extraction. All patients with retinal detachment were under the age of 63 years. Relatively young patients with high myopia bear a special risk of developing retinal detachment after lens extraction. The possible reason for this is discussed.