Articles about Eye Health and Disease 2003
 

Do Motor Vehicle Airbags Increase the Risk of Ocular Injury?

(Lehto, et al., Ophthalmology June, 2003.)

This study was undertaken to evaluate the risk of eye injury in motor vehicle accidents in which airbags deploy. An attempt was made to assess the possible associations between eye injuries and eyewear in these accidents. The study was a literature review of 62 case reports and articles describing 110 adult cases of eye injury after deployment of an airbag. The fatal accident series (fatal injuries with one or more cars involved) included 121 individuals sitting behind an airbag that deployed (65 survivors), and the airbag study (nonfatal, relatively serious accidents) included 210 individuals (survivors). The type of eye injury, eyewear, and crash dynamics were studied in each of the reviewed case reports.

RESULTS: Analysis of the published reports revealed that airbag-induced eye injuries were not more frequently reported among wearers of eyeglasses than among non-wearers. However, open-eye injuries were reported three times more often among eyeglass wearers (P = 0.04), whereas all injuries from airbag chemicals occurred among non-wearers. With the exception of one orbital fracture with hyphema, all eye traumas (7 cases) in the fatal accident series and in the nonfatal series were mild (eyebrow laceration, lid contusion, bruising). The risk of airbag-related eye injury was 2.5% for any eye injury and 0.4% for severe eye injury. In single accidents when seat belts were used, the risks were 2.0% and 0.5%, respectively. In the accidents from the fatal accident series, no difference was observed in the risk for eye injury between survivors in incidents involving airbag deployment and incidents not involving airbags. This risk was not found to be greater among eyeglass wearers.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite reported cases in the literature, it was found that the risk of severe eye injury from airbags was very low (0.4%) in fatal or relatively serious accidents. Eyewear did not seem to increase this risk but might interfere with the injury pattern.

One of the study's authors, Timo M.T. Tervo, MD, of the Helsinki University Eye Hospital stated, "It shows that even the first generation of airbags provide more protection from head and chest injuries. Protecting the head from injuries also decreases the chance of eye injures, especially if seat belts are used,"

The American Academy of Ophthalmology media spokesperson, Richard Bensinger, MD said, "Airbags, of course, are life savers and prevent many serious injuries. The injuries noted in this study are mostly trivial and self-limited. The injuries to car crash victims when the airbags are absent are serious and frequently cause permanent damage. Thus the use of the airbag is a health and life saver."

 

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