Deepavali did not turn out safe for Bangaloreans this year as over 40 cases of eye injuries due to crackers were reported from five hospitals across the city. Of these, three were grievous and one victim from Magadi Road, a passerby, lost eyesight due to a globe rupture. A shocking revelation is that in most cases, the victims were bystanders or passersby.
Satish B (31), a medical representative, suffered a ruptured globe near his house on Magadi Road here on Sunday afternoon and was taken to Minto Ophthalmic Hospital. The hospital had eight cases since Saturday including Satish, who lost his sight despite a surgery to suture his globe.
He was injured due to crackers being burst next to him as he was parking his bike. “The patient was parking his bike and as soon as he took out his helmet, a cracker particle entered his left eye injuring it grievously. There is very remote chance of him regaining his vision,” said Dr Kalpana S, assistant professor, Minto Hospital.
Another case was of a six-year-old who suffered a corneal burn and lid burn who has been admitted for local medication.
Deepavali also turned into a bad experience for Sundar, a 59-year-old government employee from Ulsoor. He was walking down the road in front of his house where children were bursting crackers. “I was a safe distance and did not realise when something went into my eye. But I washed it and even watched the India vs Australia match after which it got worse and I had to rush to the hospital,” he told Express at Minto Hospital. “I am old and I am glad my vision is still intact,” he said.
As many as 17 cases were reported at Narayana Nethralaya since Friday of which one case was serious. A seven-year-old boy Anand Simha (name changed) suffered a corneal tear in his left eye and will undergo a surgery on Monday. “Anand is usually scared of crackers and was standing at our gate and watching some children burst crackers when suddenly his left eye starting bleeding. We did not realise that it was because of a cracker particle. We washed his eye and went to a nearby nursing home where doctors said that his cornea had ruptured badly,” his mother told Express. “We don’t know if Anand will regain his vision.” she added in despair.
Other hospitals in the city had minor cases, Sankara Eye Hospital had eight cases all of which were minor and Shekar Nethralaya Super Specialty Eye Hospital also had six minor injury cases. Devi Eye Hospital in Koramangala had three minor cases.
Dr Murali Kaushik, paediatric ophthalmologist at Sankara Eye Hospital said that while 20 cases came in last Deepavali, it was a scary trend this year. “Last year we had 20 during Deepavali, so far we have had eight. The scary part of it is that six are children,” he said.
On Friday, Rahul, a six-year-old from Mahadevapura was injured as he was observing children burst firecrackers. “He was standing near a tea shop where his mother works and got injured. We had to operate his traumatic cataract due to a blunt injury. He will need another surgery after four weeks to fit an artificial lens,” Dr Kaushik said. Another case was in which a nine-year-old girl was injured due to a flower pot and suffered fluid collection in the retina and is being treated with medication.
Dr Shiva Prasad Reddy, Director, Minto Hospital said children must not burst crackers without supervision of adults. “Crackers must be burst in open areas and only on the ground and crowded areas must be avoided so that passersby are not injured,” he said.
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