Air Bag-related Corneal Rupture After Radial Keratotomy

Abstract

We studied a case of air bag-associated corneal rupture in a patient who had previously undergone radial keratotomy surgery. The patient was struck in the right eye when his driver's side air bag inflated during a low-speed collision. Inflation of the air bag resulted in rupture of the patient's right cornea. The rupture involved all but one of his old radial keratotomy wounds. Patients who have undergone radial keratotomy may be at increased risk for corneal rupture caused by air bag trauma. These patients may benefit by wearing protective eyewear while driving cars equipped with air bags.