The third day of Deepavali brought an increase in the number of eye injuries reported in the city. At least 93 new cases of eye injuries, including two severe eye injuries (leading to loss of vision) were reported late on Sunday night and Monday.
With this, the total number of eye injuries this festive season is 137.
Doctors at the State-run Minto eye hospital were kept busy on Sunday night and Monday as 21 patients walked into hospital for treatment. Shivaprasad Reddy, director of the hospital, said most were minor injuries and treated as out patients. However, a 16-year-old boy, Prakash, lost vision in his right eye after a splinter from a firecracker caused a cornea tear. Mohan Kumar, a 14-year-old from Hoskerehalli, suffered an eye injury because of a flowerpot he was lighting; doctors said he would need surgical intervention.
Private eye hospitals reported 72 cases of eye injuries in this period. Four-year-old Karthik Mohan, a resident of Mahadevapura, has lost vision in his right eye. According to Sankara eye hospital sources, he was a bystander; when an atom bomb burst, some pieces hit his eye, damaging his cornea. “Even though we performed a corneal tear repair surgery, he has vision loss in his right eye,” a hospital source said.
H.S. Vadiraj, general manager of Nethradhama Super-Speciality Eye Hospital said that three patients had serious eye injuries, but the damage could be rectified. “The key is to ensure that patients come back regular for check-up.”
Minor burns
Seven new cases of burn injuries caused by firecracker accidents were reported on Monday at Victoria hospital.
Smitha S., in charge of the burns ward at the hospital, said all these cases involved children aged below 12. “While four children had burns on parts of their face, three had burns on their hands. Most are first degree burns and superficial secondary degree burns, and they have been treated as out-patients,” she said.
