Bengaluru eye hospitals brace for firecracker injuries amid Deepavali celebrations

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru

Amidst repeated calls for a safer celebration of Deepavali in Bengaluru, eye hospitals in the city have ramped up their preparedness for eye injuries which are common during the festival phase. A few eye hospitals have also admitted a couple of grievous cases in the city. Minto Ophthalmic Hospital on Tuesday admitted an 18-year-old bystander whose eyes got seriously hurt after the sparkle from a 'Bijili' cracker struck him. The boy, according to sources, hails from Kammanahalli in North-East Bengaluru. The spark caused his right eye to bleed. Second degree burns due to the impact of the firecracker injury were found in the left eye. “The patient is now under management, and it may take a couple of weeks for him to recover,” a source told News Trail.

The hospital is fully equipped with doctors and nurses working round the clock in the dedicated firecracker injury ward for Deepavali. The ward has 10 male beds, 10 female beds and 15 beds for children, totalling 35 beds. “40 per cent of firecracker related injuries are suffered by those those under 14 years of age,” a statement from the hospital said, which treats around 60 people for eye injuries annually. Sankara Eye Hospital in Marathahalli is also geared up for Deepavali, with doctors available 24/7.

An eight year old boy in the area, was rushed to hospital on Sunday, October 27. Sai Pavan has suffered a corneal abrasion due to which the iris had prolapsed. There is a possibility of blindness in the boy’s case, sources said. “The surgery was completed successfully on October 28,” the source added.

Burst firecrackers in open areas to avoid bystander injury: Doctors Opthamologists and medical practitioners have advised the public to burst crackers which are authorised and deemed safe. What most doctors advise is having a bucket of water around, burst crackers in open areas and remain fully clothed while bursting them. Doctors also emphasise the need to consider the safety of bystanders while bursting crackers.

“Most individuals susceptible to such injuries are children or senior citizens with slow reflexes . Many a time, these are innocent bystanders who are caught unawares by the loud and powerful crackers being burst in busy places,” said Dr Jayashree, Consultant Ophthalmologist from Aster RV Hospital. Poor handling of firecrackers may also cause grievous injuries.

“While larger explosives can cause more serious eye damage, even tiny firecrackers can cause minor burns to the skin, eyelids, or lashes. Often regarded as safe, sparklers are harmful due to their extremely high temperatures,” Pallavi Joshi, Consultant Ophthalmologist from Sankara Eye Hospital stated.