Hyperosmolarity response of ocular standing potential as a clinical test for retinal pigment epithelium activity rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.

The hyperosmolarity response of the ocular standing potential was recorded in unilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (8 eyes) and in the fellow 'healthy' eye (8 eyes). The hyperosmolarity response was greatly suppressed (M-4 SD: M and SD indicate respectively the mean and the standard deviation in normal subjects) in all affected eyes (p < 0.005), and slightly abnormal in 2 fellow eyes. The L/D ratio was normal in 2 affected eyes and in all fellow eyes. The hyperosmolarity response in the affected eyes was still greatly suppressed 14 months after successful surgical treatment.