Eye Injuries Due To Diwali Firecrackers: Check Dos And Don'ts

Diwali 2023: Firecracker injuries can lead to serious damage to vision. Hence, it becomes essential to promptly respond to such injuries and ensure medical attention.

A significant aspect of eye injury prevention and management lies in understanding the right first aid techniques and acting swiftly to address any issues.

Eye injuries can have severe consequences if they are not treated promptly. During festive occasions like Diwali, many incidents of firecracker-related eye injuries are reported in hospitals. These injuries can lead to serious damage to vision, sometimes potentially irreversible. Hence, it becomes essential to respond to such injuries and promptly ensure medical attention | Photo: Getty

Knowing the right first aid techniques can make the recovery process easier. First and foremost, in case of an eye injury, it's important to not panic | Photo: Getty

The initial response in case of a firecracker-related eye injury should be to place an eye pad or a clean dressing lightly over the injured eye, says Dr. T S Sujatha of Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital, Kalyan. The patient should then be immediately referred to the nearest ophthalmologist or eye hospital for a thorough assessment and treatment | Photo: Getty

In cases of burns, Dr Sujatha says, immediate action is very crucial. "Washing the injured eye with clean water for a minimum of 20 minutes can help reduce the severity of the injury." Later, she says, the eye should be covered with a clean dressing and the patient referred to the nearest eye hospital without any delay | Canva

Any attempt to blow air into the wounded eye can exacerbate the damage. And no attempt should be made to remove any embedded foreign objects. This can cause further harm | Photo: Getty

Never go for self-medication, and don't buy over-the-counter medicines from any pharmacy without proper medical advice. Using inappropriate medications can cause permanent damage to the eyes, which can lead to visual impairment or other complications | Photo: Getty