To evaluate the efficacy of primary and redo retinectomy in eyes with complex retinal detachment. Quasi-experimental study. Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology Rawalpindi from Jan 2012 to June 2013. Fifty eight eyes [patients] underwent relaxing retinectomies for complex retinal detachment with proliferative vitreoretinopathy or intrinsic retinal shortening. Operative technique included pars plana vitrectomy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy management, use of intraoperative perfluorocarbon liquid, retinectomy, endolaser and intraocular temponade. The main outcome was anatomic success, defined as complete retinal reattachment at four months follow up. Eighteen eyes out of the same primary group underwent second retinectomy because of anatomical failure. Mean age of study population was 53.78 +/- 15.11 years, 56.9% of patients were male [s] . Anatomic success rate after 1 [st] retinectomy was achieved in 68.96% [40 eyes out of 58] . In eighteen eyes that underwent 2 [nd] retinectomy, anatomic success rate was 72.22% [13 eyes out of 18] . Overall success rate was 91.3% [53 eyes out of 58] in our study. Relaxing retinectomies for retinal shortening can improve the anatomical success rate in patients with complex RD