Bengaluru reports sharp decline in cracker burst eye injuries

Due to awareness among the public and effective communication through media says Dr Rajashekar YL

This Diwali, Bengaluru reported a sharp decline in eye injuries caused by bursting firecrackers and only a handful of cases have been reported at the city’s eye hospitals. No eye injuries due to cracker burst was reported at private hospitals.

On Thursday morning a nine-year-old boy from Basavanagudi was brought to Minto Ophthalmic institute with a n eye injury and facial burns and eyelid swelling. No hospitalization was required and it was a simple treatment injury. Apparently, that was the second case of cracker related eye injury reported in last four days. A six-year-old boy from Doddathalasandra was brought to Minto hospital with a cracker injury in his left eye. The boy was a bystander who get hit by a flower pot, said the authorities.

At Naranaya Netralaya, two paediatric cases and one adult with a cracker burst injury was treated at the outpatient unit on Wednesday but no one suffered any sight threatening injuries. Dr Rajashekar YL, the head of the Shekar Eye Hospital said that in last 4-5 years there has been steady decrease in the number of cracker-related eye injuries. He said “This is mainly due to increased awareness among the public and effective communication through media.”

In 2020, 16 children and a total of 31 cases of eye injuries caused by cracker mishaps were treated by the hospital. Three patients lost their vision in one eye, including a two-year old boy. Compared to last year, the number of cracker eye injuries has reportedly declined said the doctors. According to the statistics shared by the state-run Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, in 2008 and 2009, the hospital treated 57 patients with eye injuries followed by 61 and 63 cases in 2010 and 2011. In 2014, as many as 65 cases were recorded which was the highest since 2008.