Retina: silicone oil tamponade: practice question

A Ophthalmology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Ophthalmology · Retina: silicone oil tamponade

Sample item

A surgeon discusses long-acting tamponade after vitrectomy for complex retinal detachment. Which statement correctly describes intraocular silicone oil, as distinct from an expansile gas?

AIt is not absorbed, so a second operation is needed to remove itBIt needs strict face-down positioning for several weeksCIt is absorbed over a few weeks as the retina settlesDIt expands at altitude, so air travel is forbidden

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. It is not absorbed, so a second operation is needed to remove it

Silicone oil stays in the eye until it is removed surgically, and prolonged presence can cause emulsification, glaucoma, cataract and keratopathy. Intraocular gases expand with altitude, absorb over weeks and often need specific head positioning.

Option by option

A. It is not absorbed, so a second operation is needed to remove it (correct)
Correct. Oil is not absorbed and needs removal.
B. It needs strict face-down positioning for several weeks
Positioning demands relate to gas tamponade, whereas oil allows normal posture in most cases.
C. It is absorbed over a few weeks as the retina settles
Gas bubbles, not oil, absorb over weeks.
D. It expands at altitude, so air travel is forbidden
Altitude expansion and flight restrictions apply to expansile gases, not to oil.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Ophthalmology question

What is the answer to this Ophthalmology question?

The best answer is A, It is not absorbed, so a second operation is needed to remove it. Silicone oil stays in the eye until it is removed surgically, and prolonged presence can cause emulsification, glaucoma, cataract and keratopathy.

Why is "It needs strict face-down positioning for several weeks" not the answer?

Positioning demands relate to gas tamponade, whereas oil allows normal posture in most cases.

Why is "It is absorbed over a few weeks as the retina settles" not the answer?

Gas bubbles, not oil, absorb over weeks.

Why is "It expands at altitude, so air travel is forbidden" not the answer?

Altitude expansion and flight restrictions apply to expansile gases, not to oil.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Retina: silicone oil tamponade in Ophthalmology. Intraocular gases expand with altitude, absorb over weeks and often need specific head positioning.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Retina: silicone oil tamponade?

Group the red eye by what to examine and what the pupil does. Then use the flashcards and the other Ophthalmology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.