Protect Yourself from Airbag Eye Injury in Car Accidents

Most cars today have both seatbelts and airbags installed as part of their overall safety features. Passengers do need to be aware that while airbags along with seat belts are important safety features, not using both together can actually expose you to eye injury risk during a car accident.
 

Eye Injury from Airbags in Car Accidents
A report in Survey of Ophthalmology suggests that the incidence of eye injury and facial trauma from airbags is increasing. How can this be happening? Airbags were originally designed as a supplemental safety system to seatbelts, to protect the head from hard surfaces in frontal crashes. It is critical that all passengers wear their seatbelts even if your car has airbags in the front, back and sides of the passenger cabin. Seatbelts restrict you and prevent you from being quickly and forcefully thrown forward and colliding with the inflating airbags as they are deployed during a car accident. Airbag deployment and passenger collision with airbags has been reported to cause eye injuries including corneal abrasions, alkali burns and the serious effects of eye compression such as retinal tears, retinal and vitreous hemorrhages, retinal detachment and even cataracts. SO-the message is clear. For eye protection and safety in motor vehicle accidents, all occupants of cars should wear safety belts at all times even if your vehicle has airbags!

If you or someone you know has questions about avoiding eye injury in care accidents or needs to schedule an appointment, please feel free to call us at 508-730-2020, visit Center for Sight, Google+ or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver  to schedule an appointment.
 
Center for Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 for patients from Massachusetts or Rhode Island.