June is Firework Eye Safety Awareness Month
10,000 Reasons to Leave Fireworks to the Professionals
Acuity Eye Center Lahore Pakistan and the American Academy of Ophthalmology issue eye safety warnings ahead of fireworks season.
Every year, about 10,000 people are rushed to the emergency department for fireworks injuries. Ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – treat thousands of patients who suffer a range of fireworks-related injuries, from cuts and bruises to damaged corneas, retinas, and ruptured eyeballs. Many people believe that consumer fireworks are safe. But here’s the explosive truth: Most injuries are caused by legal fireworks parents buy for their children, such as sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles.
To help reduce the number of potentially blinding fireworks accidents this holiday, Acuity Eye Center Lahore Pakistan and the American Academy of Ophthalmology are sharing these tips:
Wear protective eyewear when igniting fireworks
Ophthalmologists recommend that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear. Stop by any hardware store and pick up some safety glasses for the entire family.
Don’t pick up duds and misfires
When a lit firework didn’t explode, Javonte McNair, 14, walked over and picked it up. The “dud” exploded, severing his hand and blasting hot debris into his eye, causing severe damage to his cornea. Keep a hose and buckets of water on hand for duds and misfires. Soak the dud from a distance with a hose or a bucket of water. Pick it up with a shovel and fully submerge it in a bucket of water to ensure it’s safe for disposal.
Keep a safe distance
Bystanders are injured by fireworks as often as the operator. Stacy Young was 100 yards away when an illegal firework sent shrapnel into her skull. Ophthalmologists couldn’t save her eye. It had to be removed.
Supervise children closely
Sparklers seem like harmless fun for the kids, but they are responsible for about 1,400 eye injuries each year. Even those tiny poppers or snappers can pose dangers. A ricocheting popper burned parts of five-year-old Nolan Haney’s eye and eyelid
Celebrate with the pros
The Fourth can be complete without using consumer fireworks. The Academy advises that the safest way to view fireworks is to watch a professional show.
“Consumer fireworks are a treasured part of Fourth of July celebrations, so it’s easy to forget the dangers they can pose, particularly to the eyes,” said Dianna L. Seldomridge, M.D., a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “Please, take our advice. We don’t want to see you in the ER this Fourth of July.”
If you experience a fireworks eye injury, ophthalmologists urge you to minimize the damage to the eye:
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Do not rub the eye. Rubbing may make the injury worse
- Do not attempt to rinse the eye
- Do not apply pressure to the eye
- Do not remove objects from the eye
- Do not apply ointments or take pain medications before seeking medical help
آتش بازی سے آنکھوں کی چوٹ کے تجربے کے بعد احتیاطی تدابیر
- فوری طور پر طبی امداد حاصل کریں
- آنکھ نہ رگڑیں۔ رگڑنے سے چوٹ زیادہ خراب ہوسکتی ہے
- آنکھ پر دباؤ نہ ڈالیں۔
- آنکھ میں پھنسی ہوئی چیز کو نکالنے کی کوشش نہ کریں
- طبی مدد لینے سے پہلے مرہم لگائیں یا درد کی دوائیں نہ لیں
Here is the message from our lead consultant Professor Dr. Zia Ul Mazhry,
"It is important to note that the best way to avoid firework eye injuries is by leaving firework shows. Protective eyewear should always be worn when handling fireworks. Children should never be allowed to light or play with fireworks of any type–even sparklers. "
آتش بازی سے آنکھوں کی حفاظت کے بارے ایکویٹی آئی سنٹر کے سربراہ ڈاکٹر ضیا ء ا لمظہری کا پیغام
یہ نوٹ کرنا ضروری ہے کہ آتش بازی کی وجہ سےآنکھوں کو پہنچنے والے نقصانات سے بچنے کا بہترین طریقہ آتش بازی کے مشغلوں اور سازوسامان کی تیاری کو مکمل طور پر چھوڑنا ہے۔ آتش بازی کے آلات اور سازوسامان کی دیکھ بھال کے دوران حفاظتی چشمہ ہمیشہ پہننا چاہئے۔بچوں کو کبھی بھی کسی بھی قسم کی آتش بازی ، یہاں تک کہ پٹاخوں اور چنگاریوں کے ساتھ بھی کھیلنے کی اجازت نہیں ہونی چاہئے۔اگر آنکھ میں چوٹ لگ جاتی ہے تو ، فوری طور پر ابتدائی طبی امداد حاصل کریں۔ زخمی آنکھ کو نہ رگڑیں اور نہ ہی اس پر دباؤ ڈالیں ،اور نہ ہی آنکھ میں پھنسی ہوئی چیز کو نکالنے کی کوشش کریں۔ تا ہم صاف پانی لے کر آنکھ کو نرمی سے دھونے یا ااس کے اندر بار بار انکھوں کو جھپکنے میں کوئی حرج نہیں ہے۔ تکلیف دور نہ ہونے یا بڑھنے کی صورت میں آنکھوں کے معالج سے فوری مشورہ ضروری ہو جاتا ہے۔
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart® program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit aao.org.
About Eye Health Education By Acuity Eye Center Lahore Pakistan
Welcome to the Education Portal of Acuity Eye Center Lahore Pakistan. We are committed to serving our patients and our community, to the development and propagation of new concepts to preserve and enhance vision. Our three missions—clinical service, education, and research—are closely interrelated.
Contact Our Team:
If you are looking for any of the below services, please fill the form below, one of our team members will get in to provide you with full facilitation:
1– Comprehensive Primary Eye Exam/ Consultation
Consultation ::: Adult Eye Examination and Consultation
Consultation ::: Children Eye Examination Refraction Consultation
Consultation ::: Infant Eye Examination Refraction Consultation
2-Secondary Follow up Eye Examination and Consultations
Followup ::: Examination under Sedation for Kids (After Initial Consultation)
Followup ::: Dilated Fundus Examination(DFE)
Followup ::: Cycloplegic Refraction and DFE
3-Diagnostic Eye Test
Diagnostic ::: OCT
Diagnostic ::: Angio OCT
Diagnostic ::: Anterior Segment OCT
Diagnostic ::: Pachymetry
Diagnostic ::: Perimetery / Visual Fields
Diagnostic ::: Hess Chart/Digital Squint Assessment/Digital Diplopia Test
Diagnostic ::: IOL Master
Diagnostic ::: Corneal Topography
Diagnostic ::: Digital Colour vision test
