Bilateral corneal endothelial decompensation following airbag-induced trauma

Approximately 3% of individuals in road traffic accidents suffer ocular injuries. We present a case of a man in his late 80s who presented with bilateral corneal decompensation following airbag deployment during a road traffic accident. Ocular examination revealed multilevel ocular injury with severe bilateral corneal oedema. This was managed with topical steroids, mydriatics and antibiotic therapy. At 1-month follow-up, the left eye had persistent corneal oedema. Specular microscopy was performed which confirmed endothelial cell loss making the patient a candidate for a corneal endothelial graft. We observed blunt trauma from airbag deployment causing endothelial cell loss and subsequent corneal decompensation. Our findings suggest that patients presenting to the emergency department with facial trauma from airbag injury should be referred for comprehensive ophthalmological assessment and that the reviewing ophthalmologist should have endothelial cell loss in mind during examination.