Air bag associated posterior segment ocular trauma

Airbags indeed reduce the risk of injury and death in motor vehicle accidents, however, ocular injury induced by airbag deployment has been reported. From 1999 to 2001, medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients with severe ocular injury related to airbag inflation at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. The ocular presentation, clinical course, management and visual outcome were recorded and studied in detail. Three cases of ocular posterior segment injury associated with airbag inflation were identified. Mean age was 37.3 years old (range 34-39 years). None of the patients was wearing a seat belt. All patients had periocular contusion, corneal edema, and hyphema. Vitreous hemorrhage was found in 3 cases, and there were 2 cases with severe macular injury, including traumatic maculopathy and hypotony maculopathy. Retinal detachment developed in 1 case. One patient presented with traumatic macular hole 6 weeks after injury. The initial visual acuity was hand motion only in all patients, the final visual outcomes recovered to 6/20, 1/60 and 2/60, respectively. The airbag-associated posterior segment ocular trauma was induced by impact with fully deployed airbag. Severe ocular posterior segment trauma with devastating visual sequelae might occur in drivers and passengers who have not fastened their seat belt.