TY - JOUR PY - 2018// TI - Impact on the pattern of ocular injuries and awareness following a ban on firecrackers in New Delhi: a tertiary eye hospital-based study JO - Indian journal of ophthalmology A1 - Pujari, Amar A1 - Kumar, Atul A1 - Chawla, Rohan A1 - Khokhar, Sudarshan A1 - Agarwal, Divya A1 - Gagrani, Meghal A1 - Sharma, Namrata A1 - Sharma, Pradeep SP - 837 EP - 840 VL - 66 IS - 6 N2 - PURPOSE: To review the nature of firecracker-related ocular injuries at a tertiary eye hospital in northern India following the firecracker ban and also to review the level of awareness among the victims.

METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study involving the patients presenting with firecracker-related ocular injuries from October 18 to 27, 2017 were assessed for demographic distribution, detailed ocular evaluation, and a questionnaire related to the awareness about the injuries.

RESULTS:: A total of 68 patients were observed. Fifty patients (74.5%) were males. This year, a majority of patients were from outside Delhi. Uttar Pradesh constituted the most 38.23% of the patients followed by Haryana 30.88%, Delhi 23.5%, and Bihar 7.35%. Visual acuity varied from 6/6 to no perception of light. Open globe injury was observed in 56 patients (82.35%) who commonly had zone I injury. A significant number of patients (88.23%) were aware of firecracker-related injuries, and a large number of such injuries (58.8%) occurred in those who were not actively involved in the ignition of firecrackers but were in the vicinity.

CONCLUSION: This year, following a ban, the number of firecracker-related ocular injuries reported from areas outside Delhi outnumbered as compared to within Delhi. However, firecracker-related ocular injuries are still a major cause of significant visual loss, especially involving the bystanders. Thus, firecracker-related celebrations should be monitored with a stringent protocol.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0301-4738 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/ijo.IJO_1290_17 ID - ref1 ER -