Airbag-induced chemical eye injury.
Chemical injuries of the eye are a rare complication of airbag deployment and result from seepage of the chemical, causing inflation through vents in the airbag. We describe a severe case of bilateral alkali eye injury upon airbag contact in a road traffic accident. Delayed recognition and irrigation of the eyes exacerbated the injury with a resultant poor healing response of the left eye. Consequently, a left amniotic membrane graft was performed to promote corneal epithelial healing. The use of an amniotic membrane graft in the acute period after a chemical keratitis is unusual and reflects the severity of the corneal injuries sustained by this patient. This case illustrates the vision-threatening risk of alkali keratitis secondary to airbag deployment and highlights the importance of early recognition and management.
Subash
Malavika
M
Moorfields Eye Hospital, 162 City Road, London EC1 V 2PD, UK. Malavika_subash@hotmail.com
Manzouri
Bita
B
Wilkins
Mark
M
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000336:Aerosols; D017278:Air Bags / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000009:adverse effects; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000009:adverse effects
D000336:Aerosols; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate