TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Crash and burn: ocular injuries due to fireworks
JO  - Seminars in ophthalmology
A1  - Patel, Ravija
A1  - Mukherjee, Bipasha
SP  - 243
EP  - 248
VL  - 31
IS  - 3
N2  - PURPOSE: To identify the patterns of ocular injury and to determine ocular morbidity resulting from the use of firecrackers. <br><br>METHODS: A prospective observational study of all patients presenting with ocular trauma consequent to fireworks usage in a tertiary eye care center in South India over a one-month period around the autumn festival of Diwali. We also reviewed the published literature from around the world reporting ocular injuries due to firecrackers. <br><br>RESULT: 49 patients were included in the study, out of which the vast majority (40/81%) were males. The mean age was 17 years. Almost an equal number of bystanders (24/48.9%) was affected as compared to people handling the fireworks (25/51%). 13 (26.53%) patients had open-globe injury whereas 33 (67.34%) patients had closed-globe injury. Twenty-two (44.8%) patients underwent surgical intervention. Eighteen (36.7%) patients had final vision less then 20/40 (range = 20/50 to No Perception of Light) with eight patients having no perception of light in the affected eye. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Unregulated use of firecrackers can lead to significant ocular morbidity, mainly involving children, young males, and even innocent bystanders. A combination of public awareness and appropriate legislative laws should be formulated regarding the use of fireworks to decrease the load of needless blindness on society.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0882-0538
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/08820538.2014.962157
ID  - ref1
ER  -