Minto Eye Hospital in Bengaluru will provide free treatment around the clock for eye injuries caused by firecrackers during Deepavali, with teams of senior ophthalmologists, resident doctors and specialists prepared to handle emergencies, hospital director Dr Suresh Babu said.
The hospital has created teams of four to six senior doctors each to manage firecracker injury cases. The teams will work in 24-hour shifts, from 9 am to 9 am the following day, while doctors from other departments will also be available during emergencies, according to the hospital.
Minto Eye Hospital has stocked the medicines required for treating firecracker-related eye injuries and will provide the treatment without charge. The announcement was made at a press conference attended by Dr Nishat Sultana, the hospital’s medical superintendent, and Dr Shashidhar, head of the concerned department.
Dr Babu said firecracker injuries can sometimes result in permanent loss of vision. The risk is not limited to people lighting firecrackers, as bystanders in the surrounding area can also be injured. Burns to the eye and nearby areas may occur because of the high heat released by firecrackers, while fragments propelled during an explosion can strike the eye. Chemicals in firecrackers can also cause serious eye problems, he said.
The hospital advised people not to self-medicate after an eye injury. Dr Babu said people should not try to wash the eye if a firecracker fragment or chemical enters it, and should avoid rubbing or applying pressure. They should also not use medication without medical advice. Instead, the injured eye should be gently covered with a clean cloth and the person should immediately contact a nearby ophthalmologist, he said.
The hospital also referred to government rules and restrictions intended to control firecracker use and reduce pollution. It advised buyers to check whether firecracker boxes carry the official CSIR-NEERI green cracker logo when purchasing products marketed as green crackers.
For emergency assistance, Minto Eye Hospital has provided the mobile number 94817 40137 and the landline number 080 26707176. The 24-hour arrangement is intended to remain available for Deepavali-related firecracker injuries through the hospital’s designated medical teams.
