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Study: Low risk of ocular injuries from air bags
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Two studies in Finland show that the risk of ocular injury from an air bag is low. Overall risk of any injury in the studies was 2.5%, and the risk for serious ocular injury was 0.4%.
Researchers at Helsinki University Eye Hospital analyzed the Finnish Fatal Accident Series (a registry of automotive fatalities), collecting data for 65 survivors who had been seated behind an airbag. They also examined the Airbag Study, which included 210 people in nonfatal car accidents. In addition, they performed a literature review that identified 62 case reports describing 100 cases of eye injuries following airbag deployment.
In addition to puncturing the myth that airbag deployment often causes serious ocular injuries, the researchers also found that that open-eye injuries were three times more likely to occur among people wearing eyeglasses. However, ocular injuries caused by airbag chemicals were more likely in people not wearing glasses.
The analysis is published in the June issue of Ophthalmology.