It’s that time of the year again. The time for sweets, and celebrations, and for loved ones to come together to celebrate this wonderful life. We call it the festival of lights. And rightly so, with all the beautifully lit lamps and firecrackers bursting about. It’s a festival of light and joy but did you know that nearly half of all firework-related injuries every year are to do with eye damage?

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Every year thousands of eyes fall victim to reckless handling or defective firecrackers. It is vital to learn how you can protect your eyes and vision and avoid any Diwali accidents.

There are certain steps you can take to protect your eyes and avoid a visit to the emergency clinic. Keep reading to learn more.

Basic Steps for Eye Injury Prevention During Diwali 

Keep Safe Distance

Simple and effective. Keep your arm outstretched and face away while trying to ignite a  cracker. Then move far away from the burst zone to avoid any flying debris or a loose spark. The #1 eye care tip for children during Diwali is to not let them near the action. At least, not without the right supervision.

Use Protective Glasses

If you have any underlying eye conditions, it is recommended that you wear protective glasses while bursting firecrackers. Protective glasses are highly effective because they deflect the flying debris as well as provide a layer of protection against any excess heat.

Avoid Contact Lenses

People who wear eye lenses ought to be extra cautious, with the smoke from the fireworks likely to cause irritation. Prolonged heat exposure is also something to be wary of, so it is advisable to remove contact lenses and wear spare glasses while lighting up Diyas or firecrackers.

Care for Irritation

In case of any irritation or itching caused by the smoke or a tiny particle in your eye, the first thing to remember is to not touch it or rub your eyes with your hands. If there are any particles on your eyeball, rubbing them with your fingers will most likely scratch the surface and cause further damage. The best course of action is to splash water on your face and eyes in an attempt to flush out the impurities and provide immediate relief.

In case of prolonged irritation or pain and discomfort, visit a 24-hour eye trauma center, like the one at Prasad Netralaya at the earliest and consult a specialist. 

In Case of Injury

In case of an emergency, such as unbearable pain or irritation, or bleeding in the eye due to debris or heat exposure, an immediate response is crucial to protect your vision and prevent damage to the optic nerve. In case of bleeding, use water, an eye patch, or a sanitary cloth, but if you’re unsure what to do, best leave it alone for a specialist to treat the wounds.

Aside from these, there are some basic rules one must follow for eye injury prevention from any Diwali accidents.  

Here are the DOs:

• Always have an adult supervise children playing with firecrackers.
• Only burst crackers in an open environment.
• Only use firecrackers bought from licensed dealers and approved brands.
• Always keep a fire extinguisher handy, or at least a bucket of water and sand to douse any loose flames.
• Use long incense sticks to ignite the fireworks.

And DON’Ts:

• Do not buy unbranded firecrackers.
• Do not try to treat any injury on your own; rush to find a doctor immediately.
• Do not let young children and especially toddlers anywhere near firecrackers.
• Do not try to reignite a firework that didn’t go off; wait at least a few minutes before going anywhere near it.
• Do not ignite them while holding in your hands or pointing them towards someone.

If you or someone you know needs medical attention this Diwali season, the 24-hour emergency trauma center at Prasad Netralaya has highly skilled specialists to look after them. To know more, call us at +91 9513596565 to book an appointment. You can also book a teleconsultation here.