A gas bubble is used in which retinal procedure?

• A. Pneumatic Retinopexy
• B. Vitrectomy
• C. Scleral Buckle
• D. LASIK

Answer: (A)

Gas bubbles provide internal tamponade to hold a retinal tear closed while the retina heals. This is the core idea behind pneumatic retinopexy: a small amount of gas is injected into the vitreous cavity and the patient’s head is positioned so the bubble presses against the tear. Laser photocoagulation or cryopexy then creates a permanent seal around the tear, allowing reattachment as the gas gradually resorbs over days to weeks. The technique is especially suited for simple detachments with a break in the upper retina.

Other options involve different approaches: LASIK reshapes the cornea and does not involve an intraocular gas bubble; scleral buckling uses an external indention to support the retina; vitrectomy is a broader procedure that may use gas as a tamponade but is not defined by the use of a gas bubble alone in the same way pneumatic retinopexy is.