The authors analyse intraocular changes occurring in detachment of the retina using sclero-compression data. A total of 447 eyes of 417 patients with detachment of the retina complicated by proliferative vitreoretinopathy of various severity were examined. Four main types of compression chorioretinal relationships are distinguished permitting a preoperative differential diagnosis of stages of concomitant proliferative vitreoretinopathies and of the type of subretinal contents in detachment of the retina. The diagnosis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in detachment of the retina is based on international classification, though it does not fully reflect all specific features of the disease. Basing on the data of analysis of compression chorioretinal relationships, the authors supplement the known classification as regards the interpretation of the minimal stage A which is considered more extensively and the moderate stage B of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The described assessment of intraocular changes in detachment of the retina permits not only a correction of the routine assessment of stages of this condition, but is practically valuable. The authors suggest four basic approaches to the choice of the optimal surgical strategy, based on the disease characteristics, stage of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, and type of compression chorioretinal relationships.