AIRBAG-INDUCED EYE INJURIES - A REPORT OF 25 CASES

Objective: To acquire a better understanding of airbag-induced eye inj uries, 25 cases are reviewed and an attempt is made to identify the ca usal mechanisms associated with each injury. Design and Methods: The N ational Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Accident Samp ling System for the gears 1954-1994 was accessed to identify automobil e accidents that included airbag deployment and injury to the ocular r egion, The search provided 25 such cases with detailed studies of the accident scene and medical records of the injuries, The cases were com prehensively reviewed to determine the causal mechanisms associated wi th each group of injuries. Results: The study determined that the inju ries range from mild corneal abrasions to retinal detachment, Causatio n for each injury was determined and is detailed, The injuries were gr ouped according to location within the ocular region, and the distribu tion is shown. Conclusions: Most of the injuries were induced bg impac t with the fully deployed airbag, but the more severe ocular trauma re sulted from the actively deploying airbag striking the occupant, Thus, ocular trauma from airbags can occur in very minor impacts, Additiona lly, the left eye seemed more vulnerable to injury than the right, Non tethered airbags have greater inflation distances that tend to increas e the probability of injury, External parameters that may also increas e the severity of eye injury include an unfastened seat belt, sitting too close to the steering wheel, or wearing glasses.