Serious eye injury from windscreen contact.

A retrospective survey was carried out of serious eye injury caused by windscreen contact in road traffic accidents over a 6-year period. All 15 patients had contacted toughened windscreens, and all but one did not wear seat belts. The cost in terms of pounds sterling paid out by the National Health Service, and also the cost in terms of visual handicap were assessed. It was found that of the 15 patients admitted during this time, the treatment of the large majority cost at least twice as much as that for patients undergoing routine cataract surgery. This was primarily due to the longer hospitalization necessary. Only 2 patients retained a visual acuity of 6/6.