 | William L. Park, OD, FAAO is in private practice in Wichita, KS. He works exclusively with patients referred for low vision evaluation, low vision rehabilitation and neurological vision loss. He is a past Director of Low Vision Services, Lions Research & Rehabilitation Center, Wilmer Eye Institute-Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Park can be reached at William L. Park, OD, LLC, www.parklowvision.com, 610 N. Main, Suite 201, Wichita, KS 67203, (316) 440-1690 or drpark@parklowvision.com. |
Vision
2011-06-01 10:02:00
Eye safety
Question: My husband has purchased fireworks for the upcoming holiday. They include many types and sizes of firecrackers, rockets and Roman candles. He feels my 15-year-old son is mature and responsible enough to participate in igniting these fireworks at our home during the holiday. I am concerned for his wellbeing. Can you give your thoughts?
Answer: The safest way to prevent firework-related injuries is to leave firework displays to trained professionals. Even sparklers which are often dismissed as having minimal risk, burn at 1800 degrees (hot enough to melt gold).
The use of fireworks by non-professionals leads to a significant number of injuries each year, many of which go unreported. Firecracker use accounted for 32 percent of the injuries reported, with 42 percent of the injuries associated with illegal firecrackers. Sky rockets, or bottle rockets, accounted for 15 percent of the injuries.
Injuries to the eye because of fireworks are most commonly due to bottle rockets and, as you might imagine, these injuries can be devastating and life changing. Data from the United States Eye Injury Registry shows that fireworks more often injure bystanders than the operators themselves.
Each year, 33 percent of the injuries result in permanent eye damage and 25 percent suffer permanent vision loss or blindness.
These six steps can help save your child’s sight:
•Do not rub the eye. Rubbing the
eye may increase bleeding or
make the injury worse.
•Do not attempt to rinse out the
eye. This can be even more
damaging than rubbing.
•Do not apply pressure to the eye
itself. Holding or taping a foam
cup or napkin (gauze) loosely to
the eye for protection is prudent.
Protecting the eye from further
contact with any item, including
the child’s hand, is the goal.
•Do not stop for medicine. Over-
the-counter pain relievers will
not do much to relieve pain.
Aspirin should never be given to
children and ibuprofen can thin
the blood, increasing bleeding.
Take the child or person to the
emergency room at once. This is
more important than stopping for
a pain reliever.
•Do not apply ointment. Ointment,
which may not be sterile, makes
the area around the eye slippery
and harder for the doctor to
examine.
As a matter of my own life, I have never chosen to be directly involved with fireworks. I have always observed from afar and enjoyed the show. The risk of injuries from fireworks cannot be overstated. This has been reinforced on countless occasions in my career by individuals who have put themselves at risk, either recreationally (fireworks) or occupationally, by not adhering to safety standards meant to protect their eyes. These patients have paid the ultimate price of loss of vision in one or both eyes for the rest of their lives.
A holiday is meant to be a time of relaxation and enjoyment. Watch from afar as a family and let others provide the show.
