Risk from airbags is minimal, says study

Researchers from the Helsinki University Eye Hospital studied more than 100 eye injury cases that occurred as a result of airbag deployment, reports medical website www.ivanhoe.com.
They also examined data from two cohort studies involving more than 200 people who were injured in non-fatal, serious car accidents.
Results of the study show the risk of eye injuries caused by airbags is minimal. Researchers say drivers and passengers have a 2.5 per cent chance of having an eye injury and only a 0.4 per cent chance of having a severe eye injury if an airbag deploys.
They also found people who wear spectacles are no more likely to be injured than those who do not, although spectacle wearers are three-times more likely to suffer open-eye injuries. Those who do not wear them are more likely to suffer from eye injuries caused by airbag chemicals.
The injuries studied were mostly mild. None of the individuals lost their vision because of an airbag injury. Researchers said the benefits of having an airbag installed in a car far outweighed the risks.
Richard Bensinger of the American Academy of Ophthalmology says: 'The injuries to car crash victims when the airbags are absent are serious and frequently cause permanent damage. Thus, the use of the airbag is a health and life saver.'