Fireworks Eye Injury: Seasonal Intervention Is an Important form of Prevention

Purpose: Prospective study of fireworks related eye injuries in India Methods: Patients admitted during 2009-2013. Results: Total: 82 eyes from 66 patients, 40/66 (60%) by Rockets. Mean age 14 years. Male predominance (47, 70%), 50% minors (< 16 yrs), Most common: lids, corneal erosions and abrasions (25/82, 30%). Severe: 8/82 eyes (10%) mostly due to falling rocket stick and unexploded crackers (UXC).Visual impairment was seen in 25% mainly due to secondary glaucoma. Severity index: 1.0 ± 0.8. (Minors 1.2 ± 1.0, adults 1.0 ± 0.5; p = 0.013). Seasonal intervention reduced ocular morbidity. Conclusion: Injuries in minors, unexploded crackers, falling rockets had poorest visual outcome. Seasonal intervention was most effective. Ocular trauma is often blinding, life changing and thought to be largely preventable. This is not only the most important cause of unilateral loss of vision in developing countries but up to 5% of all bilateral blindness is a direct result of trauma [1]. There are at least 2.5 million eye injuries in the United States yearly causing some 40 to 60 thousand cases of permanent visual impairment annually. According to the USEIR database, the majority of eye injuries occur at home. One third of all serious eye injuries occur in children age 18 years and younger. In the US, 5% all injuries are due to fireworks, 65% occurs at home and 3.5% cases lose vision permanently in one or both eyes [2].