Silicone oil tamponade after vitreoretinal surgery is preferred over gas tamponade in which clinical situation?

• A Simple rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with a single superior break
• B Patient requiring air travel within 2 weeks of surgery
• C Macular hole surgery with good surgical compliance expected
• D Complex retinal detachment with inferior breaks and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR grade C) ✓

Explanation

Silicone oil (1000 or 5000 centistokes) is used as a long-term tamponade agent in complex cases requiring inferior break support (gas cannot tamponade inferior breaks as the patient must sit upright), in PVR where prolonged tamponade is needed, in patients with monocular status who cannot maintain strict positioning, or when compliance with positioning is not possible. Gas expands at altitude, making air travel hazardous; silicone oil is unaffected by pressure changes. Simple superior RD and macular hole do well with gas tamponade.

Reference: Khurana Comprehensive Ophthalmology, 7th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.