Firecrackers can cause serious eye injuries, Mumbai eye specialist Dr Shruti Wasnik advises caution

Diwali means lamps, rangoli, festive snacks and firecrackers, but eye safety is often overlooked. Dr Shruti Wasnik, consultant ophthalmologist (cornea, cataract and refractive services) at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, has shared detailed advice on the subject.

According to Dr Wasnik, eye injuries caused by firecrackers can be serious and may sometimes lead to permanent loss of vision. She said sparks, flames, smoke, chemicals and particles flying out of an explosion can all harm the eyes.

She listed the types of injury: burning, redness and watering of the eyes; damage to the cornea, the transparent layer of the eye; burns to the eyelids and the skin around the eyes; injury to the inside of the eye causing bleeding; and damage to the retina. In severe cases, permanent loss of vision or blindness is possible, Dr Wasnik said.

She said bystanders face as much risk as the person lighting the firecracker. Children are more vulnerable to such injuries, she added.

Dr Wasnik set out several precautions. Where possible, people should enjoy safe public fireworks displays held under expert supervision instead of lighting firecrackers themselves. A safe distance should be kept while lighting firecrackers, and people should not stand very close to them. Children should never be allowed to light firecrackers alone, and adults should watch them constantly. While lighting sparklers, flowerpots, rockets or other firecrackers, the face and eyes should be kept at a safe distance.

Protective goggles of proper quality should be worn, because ordinary sunglasses are not enough protection against firecrackers, Dr Wasnik said. A lit firecracker that has not gone off should not be approached or relit. Hands should be washed thoroughly after bursting firecrackers, and the eyes should not be touched with unwashed hands. Smoke and pollution can cause eye allergy, itching and burning, and in such cases the eyes should not be rubbed, she said.

She also explained what to do if a firecracker injures the eye. It is vital to consult an eye specialist without delay. The eye should not be rubbed or pressed. No one should try to remove a particle or object lodged in the eye. No home remedy, oil or medicated ointment should be put in the eye. If there is any suspicion that something has entered the eye or that the injury is serious, the person should go to hospital at once without pressing on the eye, Dr Wasnik said.

If the burning is caused only by minor smoke or dust, the eyes can be washed with clean water. But if an injury is suspected, a medical examination should be done immediately, she said. Dr Wasnik warned that an eye injury that seems minor at first can have serious consequences, so examination should not be delayed after any injury.