ESSENTIAL EYE-CARE tips for a safe Diwali
It’s that time of the year which stands for lights, sweets and lots of fun with family and friends. Also known as the festival of lights, India decks up in its best finery as the firecrackers light up the sky. But this is also a time when one has to be careful about keeping one’s eyes safe. Dr Soham Basask, Consultant, Cornea Department at Disha Eye Hospitals shares a few handy tips for you.
If a splinter or something that’s hot and burning gets into the eyes immediately wash with lots of clean water; tap water, drinking water, any clean water will do. You can also apply some ice or cold compress if possible. The best thing is to go to the nearest doctor. Many eye hospitals keep special night and emergency facilities on Diwali open.
Wearing plain spectacles goes a long way in protecting your eyes. Many accidents happen while a person tries to be adventurous by bursting crackers in dangerous ways. We commonly receive patients with injuries from bombs which are lit under some earthen pots and burst. Another common cause is when a cracker fails to lights up the first time and then someone tries to blow on it or light it for the second time it bursts on the face of the person. Such activities need to be strictly prohibited.
Do not cover crackers with glass bottles, tins, boxes or earthen pots for sound effects. They can burst into tiny pieces and damage your eyes forever. Also, do not go near crackers that have failed to explode.
If you are a contact lens wearer, it is advisable not to wear them while watching or bursting crackers. Contact lenses may cause irritation to the eyes if exposed to high heat for a long time.
In the event of an eye injury, do not rub your eyes or use local remedies like turmeric powder, coconut oil, etc. If there are any particles inside your eyes, it may worsen the injury. Instead, wash your eyes with clean water for about 10 minutes and after that consult an eye specialist at the earliest. 4Make sure you wash your hands
properly after making a rangoli or handling fireworks, and before you touch your eyes. The coloured powder, chalk powder and chemicals from the crackers may cause eye irritation and itchiness and in certain cases, irreparable damage.
Even though fireworks may be pretty and bright, it is best to stay away from them. Do not let children light crackers. If they are bursting crackers, there should always be adult supervision.