Serous detachment of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been previously described in association with disorders of the underlying choroid and Bruch's membrane but has not been reported after retinal reattachment surgery. We have observed, for at least 16 months, three cases that clinically appeared to be RPE detachments after scleral buckling. In each case the lesions exhibited the typical biomicroscopic features of focal serous detachment of the RPE. However, the failure to show the typical fluorescein pooling has prompted us to regard these lesions as focal pockets of turbid subretinal fluid that simulate RPE detachments.