Diwali
2016: Protect your eyes this Diwali
Diwali
celebrations mean a lot of fun and enjoyment, but with incidents of eye
injuries and even loss of eyesight being reported every year, it's crucial to
take safety measures. In fact, eyes are the second-most common affected area
during Diwali after hands and fingers. As expected, the leading cause of
injuries on Diwali is the lack of appropriate safety measures while lighting
fireworks. Here are some tips shared by Dr. Pallavi Joshi, Consultant Cornea
& Refractive Services, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore, which will help you
have a happy and safe Diwali!
Irritation caused by smoke-emitting crackers
Some
major precautionary measures to be taken during bursting crackers are to fire
them in open spaces, covering your eyes with goggles or tested spectacles and
wash your hands a number of times to protect yourself from harmful chemicals,
says Dr Pallavi Joshi. Also defuse used fireworks properly by soaking them in a
bucket of water before disposal.
Caution for people who wear contact lenses
Dr
Pallavi suggests to always remove your contact lenses before going out to fire
cracker. Use a spare glass instead, which can protect your eyes in a better
way. Contact lenses may cause irritation to the eyes if exposed to direct heat
for a long time. Maintain a distance of an arm's length while lighting
firecrackers, and at least five metres while watching.
In case of an eye injury.
In
case you get an eye injury with crackers, the first step should be to wash your
eyes and face properly. Wash your hands before splashing water on the face. Do
not rub or scratch your eyes. If there is bleeding in the eye, use a patch to
cover up the wounded area and immediately rush to the nearest hospital, adds Dr
Pallavi. Dr Pallavi warns that all types of crackers are harmful and any kind
of cracker can be dreadful for your eyes. So it's best to avoid highly
combustive crackers. Avoid sparklers that reach temperatures as high as 1000°C
- high enough to melt gold and cause serious injury.
Injury leading to permanent vision loss
Any
kind of cracker injury can harm the eye, which can result in permanent vision
loss if the condition is severe. The damage of the eye by a cracker depends on
the velocity of the cracker or the intensity by which it hits the eye, the
second one is the chemical reaction in the eye and the third is the thermal
burn, which is the heat that is caused by the cracker.
27.10.2016
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