Korean J Ophthalmol.  2004 Jun;18(1):84-88. 10.3341/kjo.2004.18.1.84.

A Case of Air-bag Associated Severe Ocular Injury

• Kim JM
• Kim KO
• Kim YD
• Choi GJ

• KMID: 1115789
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2004.18.1.84

Abstract

Air-bags have received widespread support as an effective means of enhancing automotive safety, and they are becoming more common as standard automobile equipment on many cars. Although air-bag induced ocular injuries are rare, they present a serious concern because of the possibility of permanent damage or visual impairment. To date, most reports have investigated ocular injury from high velocity motor vehicle accidents and reports of ocular injury from low speed motor vehicle accidents have been rare. We describe a patient who sustained severe ocular injury, including periorbital fracture, hyphema, vitreous hemorrhage, and choroidal rupture of the macular area, due to an inflated air-bag in a low speed motor vehicle accident.

Keyword

air-bag; motor vehicle accident; ocular injury

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic
Adult
Air Bags/*adverse effects
Choroid/*injuries
Eye Injuries/*etiology
Female
Humans
Hyphema/*etiology
Orbital Fractures/*etiology/radiography
Rupture
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vitreous Hemorrhage/*etiology/ultrasonography

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. A. B-scan ultrasonogram showing vitreous hemorrhage without retinal detachment. B. Coronal CT scan of a right orbital floor blow-out fracture.

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  Fig. 2. A. Fundus photography showing vitreous and retinal hemorrhage at 2 weeks after trauma. B. Fundus photography showing choroidal rupture at the macular area and fibrotic membrane at 6 months after trauma. C. Fluorescence angiography at 6 months after trauma. Early venous phase showing vertical streak hypofluo-rescence at the macular area. D. Fluorescence angiography at 6 months after trauma. Later phase showing hyperfluorescence at the posterior pole.

Reference

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