Diwali sparks lead to loss of vision

In the last two days, at least 20 cases of cracker-related eye injuries have been reported, with three people being admitted with severe injuries.

On Tuesday, between 8.30AM and 1AM, the Minto Eye Hospital had received over seven cases related to eye injuries that have been caused by firecrackers. A 13-year-old girl named Shahid Bhanu from DG Halli is still under treatment and the doctors say there is a high chance of vision loss.

Dr BL Sujatha Rathod, director of Minto Eye Hospital, told a source that, “Out of seven cases on day one, two cases are considered to be grave. Ms. Bhanu’s is a severe condition wherein the structure of the eye has gone.”

Another severe case that was reported is that of a 55-year-old man Gururaj, who had a spark fall in his eye, as he was looking at a Flower Pot (anar) being lit. “He had bleeding in the right eye and in such situations, the optic nerve is damaged. Visual recovery is not an option in such cases,” said Dr Sujatha.

On Wednesday, the third was reported, when a seven-year-old named Monesh who was watching an Atom Bomb cracker being burnt and a spark led to a tear in the cornea which lead to iris prolapse, total hyphema and lower lid laceration. On the same day, another child had been admitted in the Minto Eye Hospital with burns around his eyes and lips. He is currently under treatment in the burns ward.

Two adults, a 70-year-old man and a 21-year old youth, and a 13-year-old boy belonging to different localities in Rajajinagar had suffered injuries from red firecrackers (bijlis). “Three patients were hit by sparks from the bijlis. They ended up in getting a burning sensation and their eyes turned blood red. We washed the patients’ eyes and put drops. They have been advised rest. All three were injured in their right eye,” said a doctor from Narayana Nethralaya.