OBJECTIVES: I. Estimate the objective response rate in infants and children with retinoblastoma when treated with carboplatin (CBDCA) and vincristine (VCR) every 3 weeks for 24 weeks. II. Assess the success of this regimen in delaying radiotherapy and eliminating the need for surgery by estimating the cumulative incidence function of treatment failure. III. Estimate the cumulative incidence of failure of this regimen as measured by subsequent treatment with radiotherapy or surgery.