Amid the sparkle of Deepavali, ophthalmologists sound a note of caution

CHENNAI The sound of firecrackers is not far away, with Deepavali drawing closer. But the excitement of bursting crackers comes with a word of caution from ophthalmologists, as they warn that a moment of carelessness could cause eye injuries ranging from minor abrasions to severe ocular trauma. M.

Elangovan, Director, Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital, said there are different types of crackers. “Bursting types (explosive crackers) will produce irregular, small, and forcible particles in all directions, and are the most dangerous. These particles travel at such a velocity that they could hit or penetrate any soft surface.

Then, there is the direct heat injury caused by crackers such as sparklers that result in scars in the cornea or conjunctiva due to the heat generated. Sudden and close exposure to bright light-emitting crackers can also cause bleaching or temporary blackout due to the impact on the rod and cone cells in the retina,” he said. G.