The effects of depowered airbags on eye injuries in frontal automobile crashes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate eye injuries resulting from frontal automobile crashes and to determine the effects of depowered airbags. The National Automotive Sampling System database files from 1993 to 2000 were examined in a 3-part investigation of 22 236 individual crashes. Of the 2 103 308 occupants exposed to a full powered deployment, 3.7% sustained an eye injury compared to 1.7% of the 310 039 occupants exposed to a depowered airbag deployment. Occupants were at a significantly higher risk to sustain an airbag-induced eye injury when exposed to a full powered airbag compared with occupants exposed to a depowered airbag deployment ( P = .04). Approximately, 90% of the eye injuries in full powered airbag deployments were caused by the airbag, compared to only 35% of the depowered airbag eye injuries.

[1]  Maria Segui-Gomez.  Changes in injury patterns in frontal crashes: injuries to drivers of vehicles model year 1993-1997 vs. Drivers of vehicles 1998-2002 - an analysis of NASS/CDC data. , 2003, Annual proceedings. Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.

[2]  Joel D Stitzel,et al.  A nonlinear finite element model of the eye with experimental validation for the prediction of globe rupture. , 2002, Stapp car crash journal.

[3]  D. Han,et al.  Retinal detachment caused by air bag injury. , 1993, Archives of ophthalmology.

[4]  G McGwin,et al.  Splenic injury in side impact motor vehicle collisions: effect of occupant restraints. , 2001, The Journal of trauma.

[5]  Johns Me,et al.  Traumatic hyphema after radial keratotomy. , 1983 .

[6]  J B Jeffers,et al.  Ocular injuries associated with eyeglass wear and airbag inflation. , 1995, The Journal of trauma.

[7]  G. Waring,et al.  Complications of radial and transverse keratotomy. , 1989, Survey of ophthalmology.

[8]  C W Flowers,et al.  Corneoscleral laceration caused by air-bag trauma. , 1996, American journal of ophthalmology.

[9]  Passenger side airbag ocular injury while wearing sunglasses. , 1995, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[10]  B Freilich,et al.  Air bag-associated ocular injury. , 1993, Archives of ophthalmology.

[11]  D. Durrie,et al.  Corneal edema, hyphema, and angle recession after air bag inflation. , 1993, Archives of ophthalmology.

[12]  G. Larkin,et al.  Airbag-mediated corneal injury. , 1991, The American journal of emergency medicine.

[13]  M. Mackay,et al.  Airbag deployment and eye perforation by a tobacco pipe. , 1995, The Journal of trauma.

[14]  P. A. Pearson,et al.  Airbags and bilateral eye injury: five case reports and a review of the literature. , 2001, The Journal of emergency medicine.

[15]  B. Glasgow,et al.  Traumatic dehiscence of incisions seven years after radial keratotomy. , 1988, American journal of ophthalmology.

[16]  G. Waring,et al.  Histopathology of traumatic corneal rupture after radial keratotomy. , 1988, Archives of ophthalmology.

[17]  T. Chen,et al.  Corneoscleral laceration associated with passenger-side airbag inflation , 1997, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[18]  L S Braude,et al.  Protective eyewear needed with driver's-side air bag? , 1992, Archives of ophthalmology.

[19]  M Segui-Gomez,et al.  Driver air bag effectiveness by severity of the crash. , 2000, American journal of public health.

[20]  R. Yeatts,et al.  Airbag-associated bilateral hyphemas and angle recession. , 1994, American journal of ophthalmology.

[21]  Lawrence Schneider.  Comparison of frontal crash protection for front seat occupants in pre-1998 and 1998 and newer model vehicles. , 2003, Annual proceedings. Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.

[22]  J E Smialek,et al.  Air bag-associated injury to a child in the front passenger seat. , 1998, The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology.

[23]  D. Shin,et al.  Anterior segment trauma and air bags. , 1995, A M A Archives of Ophthalmology.

[24]  Stuart Vaughan Newstead,et al.  Airbag Technology in Australian Passenger Cars: Preliminary Results from Real World Crash Investigations , 1999 .

[25]  M M Whitacre,et al.  Air bag injury producing retinal dialysis and detachment. , 1993, Archives of ophthalmology.

[26]  P. McDonnell,et al.  Globe rupture from blunt trauma after hexagonal keratotomy. , 1987, American journal of ophthalmology.

[27]  Erik D. Power,et al.  A Nonlinear Finite Element Model of the Human Eye to Investigate Ocular Injuries From Night Vision Goggles , 2001 .

[28]  E. Stroh,et al.  Airbag injury during low impact collision. , 1996, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[29]  J. Ruiz-Moreno.  Air Bag-Associated Retinal Tear , 1998, European journal of ophthalmology.

[30]  P. Atkinson,et al.  Knee injuries in motor vehicle collisions: a study of the National Accident Sampling System database for the years 1979-1995. , 2000, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[31]  K. Damji,et al.  Ultrasound biomicroscopy in diagnosis of a cyclodialysis cleft in a patient with corneal edema and hypotony after an air bag injury. , 2000, Canadian journal of ophthalmology. Journal canadien d'ophtalmologie.

[32]  J. Chodosh,et al.  Partial dislocation of laser in situ keratomileusis flap by air bag injury. , 2000, Journal of refractive surgery.

[33]  R. Copeland,et al.  Retinal hemorrhage secondary airbag-related ocular trauma. , 1995, The Journal of trauma.

[34]  D. Shapiro,et al.  Severe ocular trauma without corneal rupture after radial keratotomy: case reports. , 1994, Journal of refractive and corneal surgery.

[35]  Z. Hrdlička,et al.  Air bag-related ocular trauma. , 1997, The American journal of emergency medicine.

[36]  H. O'halloran,et al.  Primary enucleation as a consequence of airbag injury. , 1998, Journal of Trauma.

[37]  J B Jeffers,et al.  Ocular injuries related to air bag inflation. , 1995, Ophthalmic surgery and lasers.

[38]  E. Holland,et al.  Ruptured globe after radial keratotomy. , 1988, American journal of ophthalmology.

[39]  P. Vinger,et al.  Ruptured globes following radial and hexagonal keratotomy surgery. , 1996, Archives of ophthalmology.

[40]  R Steinmann.  A 40-year-old woman with an air bag-mediated injury. , 1992, Journal of emergency nursing: JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association.

[41]  O. Geyer,et al.  Bilateral corneal contusion and angle recession caused by an airbag. , 1996, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[42]  T. Tervo,et al.  Do motor vehicle airbags increase risk of ocular injuries in adults? , 2003, Ophthalmology.

[43]  F. Kuhn,et al.  Eye injury and the air bag , 1995, Current opinion in ophthalmology.

[44]  A. Crandall,et al.  Anterior lens capsule rupture caused by air bag trauma. , 1997, American journal of ophthalmology.

[45]  G. Fulda,et al.  Traumatic blindness after airbag deployment: bilateral lenticular dislocation. , 1996, The Journal of trauma.

[46]  Geggel Hs,et al.  Irreversible bullous keratopathy after air bag trauma. , 1996 .

[47]  G. Shah,et al.  Purtscher's retinopathy secondary to airbag injury. , 2001, Retina.

[48]  M. Cacciatori,et al.  Blow-out fracture of the orbit associated with inflation of an airbag: a case report. , 1997, The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery.

[49]  K E Mishler,et al.  Hyphema caused by air bag. , 1991, Archives of ophthalmology.

[50]  D. P. Walter,et al.  An unusual mechanism of airbag injury. , 1996, Injury.

[51]  P M Fuller,et al.  Airbag-induced eye injuries: a report of 25 cases. , 1996, The Journal of trauma.

[52]  W S Smock,et al.  Airbag module cover injuries. , 1995, The Journal of trauma.

[53]  T R Miller,et al.  Medically related motor vehicle injury costs by body region and severity. , 1990, The Journal of trauma.

[54]  M Rosenblatt,et al.  Air bags: trade-offs. , 1991, The New England journal of medicine.

[55]  I. Scott,et al.  Air Bag-Associated Ocular Injury-Reply , 1993 .

[56]  J. D. Shuler,et al.  Severe ocular trauma from a driver's-side air bag. , 1991, Archives of ophthalmology.

[57]  S A Weinman,et al.  Automobile air bag-mediated injury: a case presentation. , 1995, Journal of emergency nursing: JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association.

[58]  E R Braver,et al.  Two-vehicle side impact crashes: the relationship of vehicle and crash characteristics to injury severity. , 1997, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[59]  D. Viano,et al.  Alkaline chemical keratitis: eye injury from airbags. , 1992, Annals of emergency medicine.

[60]  J R Crandall,et al.  Eye injuries from airbags with seamless module covers. , 2000, The Journal of trauma.

[61]  L. T. Kisielewicz,et al.  Simulation model of an eyeball based on finite element analysis on a supercomputer , 1999, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[62]  E. S. Nowak,et al.  Ocular alkali burn associated with automobile air-bag activation. , 1995, CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne.

[63]  M Segui-Gomez,et al.  Changes in injury patterns in frontal crashes: preliminary comparisons of drivers of vehicles model years 1993-1997 to drivers of vehicles 1998-2001. , 2002, Annual proceedings. Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.

[64]  K. Knoop,et al.  Bilateral hyphemas as a result of air bag deployment. , 1997, The American journal of emergency medicine.

[65]  V. Totten,et al.  Hyphema associated with air bag deployment in a pediatric trauma patient. , 1998, The American journal of emergency medicine.

[66]  A. German,et al.  Airbag deployments: the Canadian experience. , 1995, The Journal of trauma.

[67]  M. V. Jernigan,et al.  The Effects of Depowered Airbags on Severe Upper Extremity Injuries in Frontal Automobile Crashes , 2003 .

[68]  M. Stranc.  Eye injury resulting from the deployment of an airbag. , 1999, British journal of plastic surgery.

[69]  K. Tsubota,et al.  Corneal endothelial cell loss induced by air bags. , 1993, Ophthalmology.

[70]  N. Chaudhry,et al.  DISPLACEMENT OF CORNEAL CAP DURING VITRECTOMY IN A POST‐LASIK EYE , 1998, Retina.

[71]  T. Amemiya,et al.  Ocular injury caused by an air bag for a driver wearing eyeglasses. , 1999, Japanese journal of ophthalmology.

[72]  E. Donnenfeld,et al.  Air-bag keratitis. , 1991, The New England journal of medicine.

[73]  A. Leung,et al.  Traumatic partial unfolding of laser in situ keratomileusis flap with severe epithelial ingrowth. , 2000, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery.

[75]  Joel D Stitzel,et al.  The effect of frontal air bags on eye injury patterns in automobile crashes. , 2002, Archives of ophthalmology.

[76]  J. Pearlman,et al.  Airbags and eye injuries: epidemiology, spectrum of injury, and analysis of risk factors. , 2001, Survey of ophthalmology.

[77]  I. Scott,et al.  Airbag-associated injury producing cyclodialysis cleft and ocular hypotony. , 1996, Ophthalmic surgery and lasers.

[78]  P. Hersh,et al.  Experimental globe rupture after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy. , 1995, Archives of ophthalmology.

[79]  A. Turmel,et al.  Airbags and children: a spectrum of C-spine injuries. , 1998, Journal of pediatric surgery.

[80]  D C Viano,et al.  Involvement of older drivers in multivehicle side-impact crashes. , 1990, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[81]  G. Lueder.  Air bag-associated ocular trauma in children. , 2000, Ophthalmology.

[82]  David C. Ball,et al.  Ocular Morbidity Associated with Airbag Deployment: A Report of Seven Cases and a Review of the Literature , 2001, Cornea.

[83]  S. Duma,et al.  The Effects of Airbags on Orbital Fracture Patterns in Frontal Automobile Crashes , 2003, Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[84]  D. Huelke,et al.  Air bag injuries and occupant protection. , 1992, The Journal of trauma.

[85]  B S Dean,et al.  Air bags: lifesaving with toxic potential? , 1993, The American journal of emergency medicine.

[86]  P. McDonnell,et al.  Ocular integrity after refractive surgery: effects of photorefractive keratectomy, phototherapeutic keratectomy, and radial keratotomy. , 1992, Ophthalmic surgery.

[87]  J. Harper,et al.  Retinal neovascularisation in Goltz syndrome (focal dermal hypoplasia) , 1999, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[88]  M A Goldberg,et al.  Air bag-related corneal rupture after radial keratotomy. , 1995, American journal of ophthalmology.

[89]  R. Yee,et al.  Ocular integrity after refractive procedures. , 1997, Ophthalmology (Rochester, Minn.).