BENGALURU: This Deepavali season has seen a concerning rise in eye injuries from firecracker incidents, with at least 13 individuals undergoing surgeries across the city. Reports indicate that Minto Hospital conducted four surgical procedures out of 49 cases, Sankara Eye Hospital handled five surgeries from 18 cases, and Narayana Nethralaya performed four surgeries among 73 reported injuries.
At Minto Hospital, 32 of the patients were children, with 14 admitted as inpatients between October 28 and Sunday noon. Among these, four required surgical intervention, while ten received conservative treatment. Notably, injuries were primarily self-inflicted (27 cases) rather than caused to bystanders (22 cases). Most incidents were categorized as simple (26), while 23 patients suffered severe injuries, with the highest number of cases originating from Bijli injuries (12).
Sankara Eye Hospital treated five of the 18 injured patients surgically. Among the injured, 14 were children, and 15 were bystanders. The youngest was a 3-year-old girl, and the oldest was a 14-year-old boy. One adult, aged 52, sustained critical injuries, while the rest were treated successfully. The hospital reported that all patients received first aid, and follow-up examinations will determine any potential loss of eyesight.
Narayana Nethralaya reported four surgical interventions from 73 cases attended between October 31 and November 3, with 35 children among the injured. Nine suffered serious injuries, including corneal tears and retinal detachments. Dr. Rohit Shetty, chairman of Narayana Nethralaya, emphasized that many injuries could have been avoided through basic safety measures, such as wearing protective eyewear and maintaining a safe distance from firecrackers.
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