It’s the time of the year again when tables are laden with sweets, each corner is decorated and loved ones come together to celebrate a wonderful life. We call Diwali the festival of lights and it’s rightly so!
There are lamps lit all around and the firecrackers are bursting in the background. There’s joy and laughter in every home! However, it’s not all fun and games when playing with firecrackers lead to eye injuries. Every year, thousands fall victim to defective firecrackers or reckless handling. Therefore, it’s important to learn eye injury prevention during Diwali. So, what kind of injuries occur and how can you avoid them? Keep reading to learn more!
Before we discuss eye safety tips for Diwali, it’s vital to understand how firecrackers can affect your eye health.
· Open globe injuries
Firecrackers emit small high velocity particles consisting of sand and other debris. If this enters the eye, it can cause open globe injuries. Due to this impact, you would need immediate surgical intervention.
Blunt trauma due to firecrackers can also lead to cataract and high eye pressure
High-intensity fireworks, such as skyrockets and sparklers, expel strong light that can damage the retina and cause lasting or temporary vision loss.
● Scalds and Burn
Hot wax or oil from diyas can splatter and burn or scald the eye’s surface.
● Eye Strain and Fatigue
Bright lights and smoke are inevitable during Diwali. These can tire and strain your eyes.
Firecrackers can propel tiny, high-velocity particles that can chafe the cornea, leading to painful corneal abrasions.
Now, let’s look at some ways of protecting the eyes during Diwali.
● Maintain Distance
Lighting a firecracker in close range increases the chance of injuries. Even if you are just standing on the side and watching others burst crackers, maintain a distance of 5 meters. If you have children, make sure they are not bursting firecrackers in proximity.
● Wear Protective Glasses
Sparklers are cool to look at but they contain several harmful chemicals such as dioxins and barium. Since both compounds are radioactive, the spark, particles and concentrated fumes can harm your eyes—even at a distance! Thus, you need to wear protective eyeglasses while bursting crackers.
● Do Not Rub Your Eyes
Your eyes may feel itchy due to the cracker particles or smoke. However, no matter how itchy it gets, do not rub them. Rubbing will only increase the irritation and pain! It can also cause secondary infections.
If your eyes begin to feel irritated while bursting crackers, use a cold cotton pad or gauze over the affected area to relieve the itch.
● Wash Your Hands
Always wash your hands thoroughly after burning crackers. If you touch or rub your eyes with unwashed hands, you are more likely to develop eye infections.
● Avoid Smog
The crackers release smoke that combines with moisture in the air to create smog. Cities, such as Delhi, experience smog every year post-Diwali, so we know how harmful it is to our health, especially to our lungs. Additionally, excessive smog reduces our visual capabilities. Therefore, avoid travelling in smog-covered areas in the nighttime.
With these precautions for eye safety, we hope you have a Happy and Safe Diwali!