Injuries to the Face and Eye: Implications for Long Term Disability 860427

To determine the full impact of crash injuries, we must know the extent of long term disabilities associated with crash injuries as well as their incidence. This report describes some of the long term disabilities arising from injuries to the face and eye, and addresses research problems in establishing and quantifying the relationship of long term disability to the initial injury. Previous research on facial and eye injuries suggest that they are commonly associated with crashes but the probability of disabilities stemming from these injuries has not yet been well quantified. In any event, both the initial injury and subsequent impairment can be prevented through widespread use of air cushion restraint systems and antilacerative windshields, and modification of the instrument panel design.