OCULAR INJURIES RELATED TO AIR BAG INFLATION

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of air bags as a safety d evice in decreasing fatalities and reducing morbidity in frontal impac t motor vehicle accidents has been well established. However, case rep orts have surfaced documenting ocular injuries related to air bag infl ation. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze ocular in juries sustained during air bag inflation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hospi tal emergency room records were reviewed retrospectively for a period of 4 years for patients who had sustained ocular injuries in motor veh icle accidents, Those injuries associated with air bag inflation were analyzed as to the nature of the injury, type of vehicle, speed, and v isual morbidity. RESULTS: Fourteen cases of ocular injury related to a ir bag inflation were identified. Hyphema (nine cases) and cornea abra sion (eight cases) were the most common. Three cases, all patients who had been wearing glasses, sustained serious and permanent ocular dama ge. CONCLUSION: While air bags are an unequivocal safety feature, ocul ar injuries do occur that are related to air bag inflation. Eyeglass w ear may present an additional risk factor.