Pune: As the festival of lights fills homes with joy and celebration, experts have urged citizens to stay cautious about their eye health during Diwali. With a steady rise in firecracker-related eye injuries every year, ASG Eye Hospital has appealed to people to celebrate an eye-safe Diwali and take preventive steps to avoid permanent damage.
To spread awareness, ASG Eye Hospital organized a press conference ahead of the festive season. Present at the event were Dr. Hemant Kamble, Dr. Anup Sadafale, Dr. Akash Yadav, Dr. Piyush Jain, Dr. Nikita Sonawane, Dr. Bhupesh Jain, Dr. Kaustubh Deshmukh, and Dr. Kulharsh Jaiswal.
“Although Diwali is a festival of joy, every year we see an increase in eye emergency cases. With some simple precautions, permanent damage can be avoided. Children and youth, especially, should take extra care while bursting crackers.” said Dr Kamble.
Eye Care Tips for a Safe Diwali
Maintain a safe distance while lighting or watching firecrackers.
Wear protective goggles to guard against sparks and chemicals.
Avoid rubbing your eyes if they feel itchy or irritated; instead, rinse gently with clean water.
Use lubricating eye drops if smoke or dust causes discomfort.
Burst crackers in open spaces to prevent smoke accumulation.
Do not self-treat any eye injury – visit the nearest eye hospital immediately.
ASG Eye Hospital has announced 24×7 emergency eye care services during Diwali to ensure immediate treatment for any firecracker-related injuries.
“Your eyes are precious take care of them and celebrate the festival of lights safely. May this Diwali be joyful, beautiful, and injury-free,” said Dr Yadav from ASG Eye Hospital.
According to national statistics up to 2023, India recorded over 2,000 cases of firecracker-related eye injuries annually. Around 60% of these victims were children below 15 years, and 10% suffered permanent vision loss. Studies indicate that 20% of emergency eye injuries during Diwali are due to firecrackers, with males accounting for 85% of cases.