NOTE: Other aspects of motor vehicle accidents are discussed in Chapters 29 and 34 (Section 34.17).
Types of eye injuries that may occur:
(1) corneal (abrasion, contusion, laceration)
(2) eyelid or soft tissue injury
(3) lacrimal duct laceration
(4) conjunctival injury
(5) scleral laceration or rupture (rupture of the globe)
(6) optic nerve injury
(7) vitreous injury
(8) retina injury
(9) enucleation
The most common eye injuries are injury to eyelid and soft tissue, conjunctiva or cornea.
Sources of eye injury:
(1) air bag
(2) windshield
(3) steering wheel rim
(4) flying glass
(5) rearview mirror
(6) roof
(7) instrument panel
(8) sun visor
Major risk factors that increase the risk of eye injury:
(1) deployment of a frontal airbag
(2) greater collision severity
(3) greater change in speed during the collision (>= 22 kilometer per hour, or >= 13.6 miles per hour), which is associated with greater kinetic energy and collision severity
Other risk factors for eye injury
(1) age >= 17 years
(2) female gender
(3) sport utility vehicle
(4) front seat position forward (nearer to steering wheel, dashboard or airbag)
(5) older model year (before 1987)
(6) body height > 64 inches
Risk factors that decrease the risk of eye injury:
(1) use of seat belts (or other restraint device such as a child safety seat)
(2) front seat position in middle or rear of track position
(3) far side or rear end collision or rollover (as opposed to frontal or near side)
(4) body weight >= 174 pounds (usually sits further back)
(5) greater vehicle weight (better protection for occupants)
