Diathermic scleral retraction appears to be an efficient technique, with little aggressivity, allowing both scleral indentation and radial and circumferential shortening of the ocular wall. We compared experimental results of a diathermic technique with those obtained by other authors using infrared laser scleral photocoagulation. The large number of variables, especially IOP, complicates standardization, but the results of the two methods on cadaver eyes were found to be quite similar. Diathermic scleral retraction creates a buckle effect and a 10 to 30% scleral shortening. This retractile effect decreases with rising IOP. This method would appear to have therapeutic interest for the management of retinal detachments with anterior proliferation and for the treatment of residual detachments after prolonged tamponade with silicon oil. These techniques of scleral shortening necessitate other experimental studies to evaluate their effects in the long-term, but the absence of induced chorioepithelial lesions would indicate therapeutic applications.