Airbag danger to the Eyes

Blunt Trauma to the Eye from airbags and chemical burns

Dr Bruce Prum, Ophthalmologist and Professor at University of Virginia, treated 5 year old Michael Plescia after Michael's airbag punched him in the face. Michael couldn't open his eyes for three days, and when he did, he couldn't tell the difference between a window and a TV screen. When medical dye was placed in one of his eyes, the weave pattern from the airbag could be seen on it. Michael's eyesight has been permanently damaged and he has to go for tests at least twice a year because a cataract could develop. 

 In addition, the blunt trauma to his eyes makes him a candidate for Glaucoma. According to Dr Prum, any blunt trauma puts the eye at risk of Glaucoma, even years later. He noticed that although adults seemed to develop Glaucoma right away, children seem to develop it years later, when they became adults.

Doctors have reported orbital contusions, corneal abrasions, vitreous and sub-retinal hemorrhage, corneal edema and retinal detachment in people who were hit by an airbag (and exposed to its contents).