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Firecracker eye injury: what to do first, and when to come in

In Goa, the night before Diwali belongs to Narkasur. Effigies are built in villages and wards across the state, paraded late into the night and burnt before dawn, often with crackers packed inside or set off all around. Diwali itself brings more crackers, sparklers and rockets. Every year, hospitals across India see a rise in firecracker eye injuries at this time, and many of the people hurt were only watching.

This guide covers what to do in the first minutes, what not to do and when to come in. Emergency eye care at ReNew Vision Eye Hospital in Vaddem, Vasco is available 24 hours, every day, and that includes Narkasur night and Diwali.

What kinds of eye injuries do firecrackers cause?

• Burns to the eyelids, the lashes and the surface of the eye, from sparks, sparklers and flashes.
• Chemical injury from the powder and residue inside crackers.
• Blunt injury when a cracker or rocket strikes the eye, which can cause bleeding inside the eye.
• Cuts and tiny fragments of paper, clay, metal or stone thrown out at high speed, which can enter the eye.

An injury can look small from outside and still be serious inside the eye. That is why every firecracker injury to the eye should be checked by an eye doctor, even if it seems to settle.

What should I do first?

1. Stay calm and stop the person rubbing the eye. With a child, gently hold their hands away from the face.
2. Look without touching. Is there a cut, bleeding or something stuck in the eye? Does the eye look a different shape? Can the person see with it?
3. If the eye may be cut or something is stuck in it, do not rinse it, do not press it and do not try to remove anything. Tape the bottom half of a paper cup, or any clean, rigid shield, over the eye socket so that it rests on the bones around the eye and does not touch the eye. Come in at once.
4. If only ash, powder, dust or a spark went into the eye and there is no sign of a cut, rinse gently with plenty of clean water for at least 15 to 20 minutes, holding the lids open. Then come in to have the eye checked.
5. For burns to the skin around the eye, cool the skin with clean, cool running water for up to 20 minutes, keeping the water away from an eye that may be cut. Do not use ice, toothpaste, oil, ghee, butter or any cream. Come in so that the eye itself can be examined.
6. Call 072489 88039 on the way if you can, and come to ReNew Vision Eye Hospital, 2nd floor, Pai Hospital building, Vaddem, Vasco da Gama. If you are far from Vasco, go to the nearest hospital emergency department instead of travelling.

What should I not do?

• Do not rub or press the eye.
• Do not try to pull out anything stuck in the eye or the lids.
• Do not put home remedies in the eye: no milk, honey, ghee, oil, rose water, kajal or toothpaste.
• Do not use leftover or borrowed eye drops or ointment.
• Do not take medicine for pain without a doctor's advice, as some painkillers can increase bleeding.
• Do not wait until morning to see whether it settles.

When should I come in?

Come in for any firecracker injury to the eye. Come in at once, day or night, if there is:

• pain in the eye, or the eye will not open
• blurred vision or any loss of vision
• blood in the white of the eye, or blood in front of the coloured part of the eye
• a cut on the eye or the eyelid
• something stuck in the eye, or the feeling that something is still there
• a change in the shape of the eye or the pupil
• burns on the eyelids or singed lashes
• strong sensitivity to light

The Eye OPD hours (Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to 7 pm) are for routine visits. A firecracker injury is an emergency, and emergency eye care at ReNew Vision is available 24 hours. For other eye emergencies, see 24-hour emergency eye care.

What happens at the eye hospital?

The eye doctor asks how the injury happened, checks the vision in each eye and examines the eye under magnification, sometimes with a dye drop that shows up scratches and burns on the surface. Particles on the surface can be removed, burns and scratches treated, and the inside of the eye examined for bleeding or other damage. If the injury needs surgery or tests that are not done at ReNew Vision, the eye doctor explains why and arranges a referral.

Follow-up visits are often needed, because some problems after an injury, such as raised eye pressure or fresh bleeding, can appear days later.

Is a firecracker injury in a child different?

Children often cannot describe what happened or how well they can see, and they rub their eyes. Keep their hands away from the eye, shield the eye if it may be cut, and bring the child in straight away. In a young child, an eye injury can also affect how vision develops, so the follow-up visits matter.

How can families prevent firecracker eye injuries?

• Let adults light crackers, one at a time, at arm's length, using a long agarbatti or a lighter stick. Never lean over a cracker while lighting it.
• Keep children, older people and pets well back, and watch the Narkasur burning from a safe distance, away from the smoke and sparks.
• Never relight a cracker that did not go off. Wait, then pour water over it.
• Do not light crackers in your hand or inside tins, bottles or pipes, and never throw them at people, even in fun.
• Hold sparklers at arm's length, away from the face and clothes, and drop used sparklers into a bucket of water, because the wire stays hot for a long time.
• Keep a bucket of water nearby.
• Spectacles give some protection, but they are not safety goggles. Protective glasses are a sensible idea for whoever is lighting the crackers.
• Wear cotton clothes rather than loose synthetic ones.

For eye check-ups after the festival season, or if your eyes still feel uncomfortable days later, see what a complete eye check-up includes. Directions are on the visit page.

Questions patients ask

Should I wash my eye with water after a firecracker injury?

Only if ash, powder, dust or a spark went into the eye and there is no sign of a cut or something stuck in it. If the eye may be cut, do not rinse or press it; shield it with a paper cup and come in at once.

Can I put milk or ghee in the eye after a cracker burn?

No. Do not put milk, ghee, oil, honey, rose water or any home remedy in the eye. They do not help and can carry infection. Rinse only with clean water when it is safe to do so, and come in.

Is ReNew Vision open on Narkasur night and Diwali?

Emergency eye care at ReNew Vision is available 24 hours, every day, which includes Narkasur night and Diwali. Call 072489 88039 on the way if you can.

My eye feels better after a cracker injury. Do I still need a check-up?

Yes. Small fragments, scratches and bleeding inside the eye are not always obvious and can cause problems later. Every firecracker injury to the eye should be examined by an eye doctor.

Do spectacles protect the eyes from crackers?

They give some protection against sparks and debris, but they are not safety goggles. The safest step is distance: let adults light crackers at arm's length and keep onlookers well back.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.