Air bags: Trade-offs

To the Editor: Chemical keratitis from air-bag discharge of alkali was reported by Ingraham et al. (May 30 issue).¹ We have seen two cases of a previously unreported but equally worrisome condition, contusion to the eyes of drivers during air-bag inflation. A 35-year-old man driving at 35 miles per hour was hit obliquely by a car approaching from the right rear, and his air bag inflated, striking him in the left eye. He was wearing his shoulder—lap belt; he was not wearing glasses. In the emergency room, the vision in his left eye was found to be reduced to 20/200;.