Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 25G illumination aided scleral buckling surgery for treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods This is a retrospective case control study. Fifty-seven RRD patients (57 eyes) were enrolled in this study. There were 35 males (35 eyes) and 22 females (22 eyes). The patients were randomly divided into ophthalmoscope group (29 patients, 29 eyes) and illumination group (28 patients, 28 eyes). There was no differences in the data of gender, age, onset time, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best corrected visual acuity(BCVA) and information of retinal tears between the two groups (P＞0.050). The patients in the ophthalmoscope group received operation of conventional scleral buckling with binocular indirect ophthalmoscope. The patients in the illumination group received scleral buckling surgery with the aid of intraocular illumination and noncontact wide-angle viewing system. The follow-up was ranged from 6 to 12 months. The BCVA, intraocular pressure, fundus examination and complications were observed and recorded. Results The difference of operation time between two groups was significant (t=2.124, P=0.031). In the ophthalmoscope group, 26 eyes (89.7%) achieved retinal reattachment, 3 eyes (10.3%) failed in retinal reattachment. In the illumination group, 26 eyes (92.8%) achieved retinal reattachment, 2 eyes (7.2%) failed in retinal reattachment. There was no difference of retinal reattachment rate (P=1.000). Five eyes failed in retinal reattachment, 3 eyes received sclera buckling surgery, 2 eyes received vitrectomy with silicone oil tamponade. The final reattachment ratios were both 100%. BCVA increased in both groups compared with pre-surgery BCVA (t=4.529, 5.108; P＜0.001). The difference of BCVA between two groups was not significant (t=0.559, P=0.458). There was no significant difference of intraocular pressure and complications before and after surgery in both two groups (t=−1.386, −1.437; P=0.163, 0.149). The difference of intraocular pressure between two groups was not significant (t=0.277, P=0.730). Subretinal hemorrhage occurred in 1 eye in the ophthalmoscope group. There was no iatrogenic retinal break, choroidal hemorrhage and endophthalmitis in the two groups. Conclusion 25G intraocular illumination aided buckling surgery for treatment of RRD is fast, safe and effective.