Chemical exposure to any part of the eye or eyelid can cause permanent damage. The injury occurred when the patient leaned over a repeater firework after it had malfunctioned. Firecrackers and eye injuries go handinhand during. Images in clinical medicine from the new england journal of medicine eye injury from a firecracker. The most recent report showed that about 1,300 eye injuries related to fireworks were treated in u. Eye injury is one of the most common worldwide causes of monocular visual impairment and blindness. Fireworkrelated ocular injuries department of ophthalmology. The patient experienced severe eye pain and had immediate loss of vision in the left eye os. This involves rinsing the eye until the object is flushed out. Webmd does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Depending on your situation, any combination of these treatments, or none of them, may be. Jun 28, 2017 this is what happens when a firecracker explodes in your eye.
The indian journal of opthalmology published a case series of firecracker eye injuries during. Preventing fireworks eye injuries cameron nc northgate. The national capital on an average gets 76 cases of eye injuries sustained from firecrackers each year, according to a study by aiims, delhi. The most recent consumer product safety commission report found that 14% of fireworks injuries were eye injuries. Jun 12, 2019 the most recent consumer product safety commission report found that 14% of fireworks injuries were eye injuries. To learn how to treat and manage fireworks injuries, enroll in first aid courses. Learn about chemical eye burns from alkalis, acids, or irritants, and find out what to do in this medical emergency. Firecracker eye injuries during deepavali festival. Aloe vera gel or other soothing treatments can be applied after this. Injuries from fireworks largely occur in the weeks before and after the fourth of july.
Aloe vera gel or other soothing treatments can be applied after this initial treatment, but only if the burn is minor. The safest way to enjoy the splendor and excitement of fireworks is at a professional display. The eye is a delicate structure that is easily damaged by a small foreign body. This study was a hospitalbased, singlecenter, retrospective case series of firecracker injuries. Webmd tells you how to protect your eyes from injury. You cant always tell when an eye is injured or that the injury is serious. If the injury is a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn. The sooner the eye gets treatment, the better the chances are for recovery. Preventing fireworks eye injuries oviedo fl vision source. Delhi witnesses around 76 cases of firecracker eye.
On average, 280 people go to the emergency room every day with fireworksrelated injuries in the month around the july 4th holiday. If your child has any type of eye injury, you should see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. Oct 28, 2019 delhi witnesses around 76 cases of firecracker eye injuries each year, reveals aiims study. Nov 14, 2012 severe eye injury in a young male adult due to firecracker bursting near face at diwali. Mechanisms of eye injuries from fireworks ophthalmology jama. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. If youre worried that you have injured your eye, visit an eye doctor near you. In the most severe cases, fireworks can rupture the globe of the eye, cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions and retinal detachment all of which can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss. A 44yearold man presented with pain and decreased vision in both eyes after an injury he sustained while lighting a firecracker. If your eyes are injured by a firecracker, cover the injured eye with cotton and tape, and rush to an eye specialist immediately for an evaluation of the extent of the damage. A corneal flash burn can be caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, a welders arc even a halogen desk lamp. Particular attention is required if a foreign body is involved or if the.
You can see the massive corneal edema and hyphemablood inside the eye. Delhi witnesses around 76 cases of firecracker eye injuries each year, reveals aiims study. Some common eye injuries, such as deep puncture wounds from accidents, could require immediate treatment or surgery to prevent permanent eye damage resulting in vision loss. First aid treatment for various fireworks injuries. These injuries almost never can be adequately treated at home. All patients with firecracker injuries who attended the emergency eye care services of a tertiary eye care hospital in south india, during the deepavali festival week from 26 october to 2 november 2008 were included in this study. Recognizing and treating eye injuries american academy of. What to do for a fireworks eye injury seek medical attention immediately. Eyes were visually examined for injury corneal abrasion, scleral damage, and globe rupture and photographs were taken before and after each. Over the past 3 years, the number of eye injuries caused by fireworks has more than. Most firecrackers are made of flashpowder, a mixture of oxidizer and metallic fuel that burns.
Minor eye injuries, such as shampoo or dust in your eye, often get better on their own within a day. Fireworks eye safety american academy of ophthalmology. Some problems, like a detached retina, can only be seen during a doctors examination. Pdf firecracker eye injuries during deepavali festival. The common fireworks injuries include minor burns on hands or legs, wounds that are oneinch big or less, big wounds, injured fingers and eye injuries. Burns were the most common injury to hands, fingers and arms. Preventing fireworks eye injuries university place wa.
Never place ice or cold directly onto the eye or eyelid. The firework launched and directly contacted the left orbit. A new study suggests exposure to flying debris from firework explosions may be a bigger factor in eye injuries than the force of the blasts themselves. Often, frequent examinations will be needed until the eye is completely healed. Of those total injuries, 18 percent involve the eyes, and eye injury is second only to skin burns. Twothirds of the fireworks injuries treated in emergency rooms happened. Treatment may involve pain medicine, antibiotic medication, or medicine to enlarge dilate the pupils. You can see the massive corneal edema and hyphemablood inside. Recognizing and treating eye injuries american academy. Preventing fireworks eye injuries rolesville nc north. Dont flush an injured eye with water or attempt to put ointment on it. Consumer product safety commission, fireworks are involved in thousands of injuries treated in u.
Types of fireworks eye injuries can include burns to the eye and. Eye injuries are a leading cause of vision impairment in kids, so early treatment can save your childs sight. Once cool, cover the area with second skin or similar or cling wrap to protect it. Karin lecuona, consultant, division of ophthalmology, groote schuur hospital and university of cape town, private bag, observatory, 7937, south africa. See more statistics about fireworks and eye safety. In the eye injury registry of alabama eira database, 185 of the 4150. If a foreign body scratches or scars the eye surface, the patient may lose some or all vision in the injured eye. A 48yearold male presented to the university of iowa emergency treatment center on july 4th due to a firework injury to his left eye. Read about how to give first aid treatment to eye injuries. Nov 16, 2015 in india many hospitals prepare for the influx of people with eye injuries during religious celebrations to quickly treat the affected.
The treatment for chemical injury to the eye from a firecracker includes copious irrigation of the eye as soon as the injury is detected. Preventing fireworks eye injuries oviedo fl vision. Although patients with closed eye injuries were treated. Tips to combat firework eye injury horrors ophthalmology times.
Discussion firecracker damage to the eye can result in mechanical, thermal, and chemical injury. If a foreign body gets in your eye, dont try to take it out. Feb 25, 2019 you cant always tell when an eye is injured or that the injury is serious. When your eye gets a burn from chemicals or heat, quick treatment is key. If an eye injury from fireworks occurs, it should be considered a. For more serious eye injuries or if there are any questions regarding even the most trivialappearing injury, an ophthalmologist should be consulted. How to respond to an eye injury from fireworks and what not to. Symptoms of eye injuries, managing, treating and caring. Any remaining particles in the fornices should be removed because they can cause tissue necrosis. Get medical help if you have a chemical in your eye or something pierces it. Firecrackers are synonymous with the hindu festival of deepavali, but, increasingly, so are eye injuries the times of india reported that this years deepavali festival saw 88 people rushed to hospitals in the indian city of bangalore with eye injuries.
Immediately run the burn area under cool water for at least 10 minutes. Minor eye injuries can be cared for by your family doctor or by emergencyroom doctors. Symptoms and signs include eye pain, tearing, and eye redness. This is what happens when a firecracker explodes in your eye. While doing so, remove any jewelry or clothing from the affected area. To analyze and compare epidemiological and clinical information on serious fireworksrelated eye injuries from two affiliates of the united states eye injury registry. If you or someone you know does sustain an eye injury this 4th of july, dont rub, rinse out, or apply pressure or any ointment to the injured eye, because this could cause more damage. The data was revealed in a study named prevalence of firecracker injury and outcomes with the. Fireworksrelated eye injuries can devastate lives since onethird results in permanent eye damage and onefourth in partial vision loss or blindness. Bottle rockets account for a whopping 15 percent of eye injury from fireworks. Firecrackers and eye injuries go handinhand during deepavali. Severity is determined by swelling, discoloration or vision problem.
Mar 07, 2014 to learn how to treat and manage fireworks injuries, enroll in first aid courses. Even sporting gears like cricket ball, squash ball, tennis all and or badminton shuttle cock and other objects traveling at high. Jun 26, 2017 dont flush an injured eye with water or attempt to put ointment on it. Treatment will depend on the type and severity of the eye.
Just about any projectile made of metal, wood, glass stone, plastics or any hard objects can traumatize the eye. Fireworksrelated eye injuries can devastate lives since onethird results in permanent eye damage and onefourth in. Assessing and managing eye injuries pubmed central pmc. Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye. Heavy rains and a public firecracker safety awareness campaign have, however, have brought down the number of cases. Find out how to treat eye burns and when to see a doctor. And some injuries can raise eye pressure or cause slow bleedingproblems that are only obvious when they get really serious. Do not apply ointments or take any bloodthinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, put it around the eye and seek immediate medical attention your childs eyesight may depend on it. Four others were treated conservatively as per the standard treatment protocol for ocular burns and chemical injuries.
Murchison, md, codirector of the wills eye emergency room in philadelphia discusses fireworks and eye injuries. Most of the patients were below the age of 20 years. A 5yearold with firecracker injury to the eye medscape. In most cases, simply flushing the eye will get the job done.
Examination and imaging revealed globe rupture and multiple foreign bodies embedded in the corneal stroma. The most common injuries on bonfire night are burns, debris in the eye from the bonfire or from fireworks and. Jun, 2018 if you or someone you know does sustain an eye injury this 4th of july, dont rub, rinse out, or apply pressure or any ointment to the injured eye, because this could cause more damage. Researchers found that scratches on the cornea from projected explosive material were the most common injury in their small study. Nicholas colatrella holds a photo of an eye thats been severely injured by a firecracker wednesday at his offices at pinecone vision center in sartell. Avoid using chemical packs as they may leak and cause. If that doesnt work it is time to seek medical treatment, especially if there is a great deal of pain or you find it impossible to focus on things normally.