The invention relates to a method for operating an optoelectronic detection device (12) for monitoring at least one monitoring region (14) with optical monitoring signals (34), and to an optoelectronic detection device (12). In the method, at least one first receive start signal (58a) is sent to at least one first receiver (24a), and at least one second receive start signal (58b) is sent to at least one second receiver (24b). In response to the at least one first receive start signal (58a), a receive process which is carried out with the at least one first receiver (24a) is started and at least one first trigger signal (44a) is generated with the at least one first receiver (24a). In response to the at least one second receive start signal (58b), a receive process which is carried out with the at least one second receiver (24b) is started and at least one second trigger signal (44b) is generated with the at least one second receiver (24b). From the at least one first trigger signal (44a) and the at least one second trigger signal (44b), a transmission trigger signal (64) is determined, which corresponds to the later of the at least two trigger signals (44a, 44b) at least in terms of its trigger function. In response to the transmission trigger signal (64), at least one optical monitoring signal (34) is generated with at least one optical transmitter (22).