Every year, eye hospitals in the city see a significant increase in the number of people reporting with cracker-related injuries, during and post-Deepavali. The injuries are more common among children who are not supervised while lighting fireworks, say doctors.
Those injured must be immediately taken to a hospital for the right treatment.
“In 2010, we treated 24 patients for cracker-related injuries and 16 of them were children in the age group of six to 15,” said Mohan Rajan, chairman, Rajan Eye Care Hospital.
“The injuries referred to our hospital range from corneal abrasions to traumatic cataracts, corneal tears, retinal detachments, vitreous haemorrhage and rupture globe,” he added.
A survey conducted by the hospital has revealed that most injuries are caused by firecrackers. Around 100 persons have been injured while participating in a public display of fireworks, the survey found.
The situation is worse for children, as they are sometimes blinded for life.
Sankara Nethralaya, which has a 24-hour hospital service, has also issued an advisory for a safe celebration this year. Fireworks must be lit outdoors only, and all safety precautions issued with fireworks must be followed, hospital authorities said. Wear fitted, cotton clothes and keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water handy to put out any fire. Discard used fireworks in a bucket of water.
Dr. Agarwal’s Group of Eye Hospital’s CMD Amar Agarwal said, “Eye injuries due to fireworks constitute an important percentage of preventable injuries. It is very important to take precautions against such injuries.
Since during the festival patients with firecracker injuries come to these eye hospitals, these institutions maintain round-the-clock services, hospital representatives said.
