Date:13/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/13/stories/2004111314740300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Many children suffer eye injuries

By Our Staff Reporter

Praveen, who was injured while bursting crackers, at the Minto Eye Hospital in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE, NOV. 12. For Praveen (13) and Mangamma (35), the festival of lights has brought darkness this time. They have suffered serious eye injuries caused by firecrackers and are being treated at the Minto Eye Hospital here.

While Praveen hurt his eye while lighting crackers at his grandparents' house in Yelahanka, Mangamma said she had been punished for no fault of hers.

"I was washing vessels in the backyard and a `rocket' pierced my eye. I have two children and my husband is an alcoholic. Please do something for me," she told Manjunatha Swamy, duty doctor at the hospital, on Friday. He said there were "globe ruptures" in the eyes of Praveen and Mangamma.

These are only two of the major cases of eye injury witnessed in the city since Thursday. "Deepa (13), Ashish (7) and S. Vinayaka (15) (who were treated as outpatients) were lucky to suffer only corneal abrasions," Dr. Manjunatha Swamy said.

At other hospitals

Twenty-one cases of injuries to children were reported at other hospitals. Nine cases were reported at Prabha Eye Clinic in Jayanagar and five cases each at Narayana Nethralaya and the Vittal International Institute of Ophthalmology. Two cases were reported at Agarwal's Eye Hospital. In most of these cases, children hurt themselves while lighting crackers using agarbathi. "After lighting crackers, children tend to go near them to check if they have been lit. This is dangerous, and at least seven patients who have come here since yesterday have suffered corneal abrasions," the doctor said.

Fewer cases this year

Though the number of eye injuries reported is less than that last year, most have occurred because of negligence.

"Parents should ensure that children light crackers only under their supervision. Besides, adequate awareness about safety measures should be created at least a week before the festival," Dr. Manjunatha Swamy said.

To make Deepavali less noisy, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board had banned certain crackers.

The board, along with the Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services and the Police Department publicised safety measures while handling fireworks.

"But, extensive awareness campaigns (similar to those carried out during the Pulse Polio drive) were not launched. Only awareness can help prevent such accidents," Dr. Manjunatha Swamy said.