A survey of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment during 1976 was conducted on the population of Iowa. The annual incidences (per 100,000 populations) of four types of detachment were determined: nontraumatic phakic (6.1), traumatic phakic (1.0), nontraumatic aphakic (4.9), and traumatic aphakic (0.4). The incidences of nontraumatic phakic detachment for men and women were similar, although there was a preponderance of women that reflected their greater representation in the general population. The proportions of men were significantly higher in traumatic detachments compared with nontraumatic detachments. Men tended to be younger than women for all types of detachment; however, only in nontraumatic aphakic detachment was there a significant difference between mean ages. There was an insignificant preponderance of right eye involvement in all four detachment groups.