The effects of cryotherapy, transcleral massage, or directed irrigation on exposed retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells at the base of an experimental retinal hole were studied in living rabbit eyes. Cryotherapy or massage with or without vitrectomy failed to release RPE cells or result in preretinal membrane formation. Directed irrigation dispersed viable RPE cells into the vitreous and produced cellular precipitates with membranes on the inferior retina, although the membranes tended to regress within 6 weeks after surgery. These results suggest that healthy RPE cells at the base of retinal tears are not easily released into the vitreous and may not contribute to the formation of preretinal membranes found in proliferative vitreoretinopathy.