Diwali is a festival filled with happiness and celebration among the families. But, the growing popularity of firecrackers, and decorative lights, and the level of pollution during Diwali can cause many problems concerning the health of one’s eyes. To make this Diwali more enjoyable without compromising eye wellness.

Here are a few diwali eye care safety tips and care instructions that will help to keep you healthy and happy this festive season. These realistic measures, whether in home decoration or watching fireworks, will help maintain eye safety for everyone.

1. Why Diwali Eye Care Is Necessary

• Eye Care During Diwali Festival: Diwali is one of the biggest festivals, but too much light, smoke, and dust can lead to eye irritation and cause strain and dryness.
• Reasons to care for the eyes during Diwali celebration: The concentration of airborne irritants and particulate matter rises enormously during the festival of Diwali. It’s imperative to take extra precautions to prevent eye irritation, infections, or injuries.
• In case of any eye trauma or infection, seek help from an eye doctor at an eye specialist hospital without delay to avoid worsening the condition.

2. Festival Eye Protection Tips:

• Relief of Eye Irritation from Smoke and Other Particulates
• Additional Protection for the Eyes from Smoke-Induced Irritation and Discomfort.
• It’s Possible to Contain Eye Irritation Due to Smoke: Whenever there are firecrackers, they produce smoke and chemicals that are harmful to the air. These pollutants are considered even more dangerous when they interfere with the eyes as they cause discomfort and irritation.

Tricks of Preventing Eyes From Smoke:

• Keep outdoors to a minimum especially when air pollution is high and you are prone to eye sensitivity.
• Use lubricant eye drops after the physician’s advice to enhance the comfort of the eyes caused by smoke and air contamination.
• Do Not Scratch Eyes: If your eyes are irritated, do not allow yourself to scratch them because it can promote infection and aggravate the irritation.

3. Diwali and Vision: Effects of Air Quality on the Eyes

Effects of Pollution on Eyes: The noise, light, and of course the smoke generated by the Diwali cracker induce a correlator activity filled with harmful chemicals like sulfur and nitrogen oxides which break down the tear film and lead to dry and itchy eyes.

Management Of Eye-Related Symptoms:

• Sighting the pollution levels outside the home and staying within the four walls saves the eyes, especially during evening and night hours because of high pollution.
• Wear a dust mask or a scarf in places where there is a possibility of inhaling smoke especially during and after a fireworks display.
• Go to the Eye Hospital: If you observe that your eyes have become reddish, swollen, or pain lasting several days, without any relief, then do rush to an eye hospital for intervention to avoid future complications.

4. Eyes safety in luminous decoration and range of crackers

Lights and Batty Eyes: It is obvious that the bright light and blinking lights, an essential part of Diwali celebrations, cause eye strain and fatigue, especially for light-sensitive persons.
Effects of Decorative Below: Continuous exposure to bright lights may lead to headache, eye pain, and blurriness of vision.

Eye Care Tips Regarding Lights:

• Limit the amount of time spent staring into bright lights and fireworks.
• Rather than fixating on the decorations too long, look away to relieve the pressure.
• Use the fitting curtains for the room or warm lighting to protect the vision better.

5. Child Eye Protection During Festival Period

Child Eye Injuries: children are more likely to have eye injuries accidentally when holding sparklers, bursting fireworks, and rubbing out tears in their eyes due to smoke exposure.

Recommendations for Child Eye Safety in this Case:

• Supervise kids carefully when the fireworks are being fired and even if they are holding firecrackers make sure they have put on safety goggles.
• Instruct them to wash their hands very often and discourage them from touching their eyes to reduce the risk of infections.
• Provide face shields or protective glasses to avoid the risk of injuries.

6. Having Proper Diwali Eye Care While Celebrating Festive

• Create Healthy Habits and Practices for Eye Care: These simple techniques can be adopted during the celebration of Diwali to maintain healthy and happy eyesight.
• How to Protect Oneself: Always put sunshades or protective glasses when the activity involves oneself in an area with fireworks or bright lights.
• Avoid Using Contact Lenses: Where it is possible to go for spectacles instead of contact lenses especially for those under high levels of pollution since lenses tend to increase dryness.
• Wash Hands Regularly: Make sure to clean your hands frequently, especially after being outside or coming into contact with any contaminants that may transfer to the eyes to minimize the risk of infection.

7. What to Do if You Experience Eye Discomfort

Eye Recovery Tips:

• Cold Compress: A cold compress can be beneficial for red and sore eyes even tired ones. Place a clean cold piece of cloth over the closed eyes for several minutes.
• Artificial Tears: Moistening drops for the eyes (after the doctor’s advice) may help with dry and burning eyes.
• Avoid Rubbing Eyes: so it’s best to keep your hands away from your face. Touching or rubbing your eyes can aggravate discomfort.
• Visit an Eye Specialist: It is important to go to the optical hospital or consult an eye doctor when the bothersome symptoms such as persistent pain, redness, or vision problems worsen or do not go away.

8. Why Should You Get Eyes Checked Frequently Especially During the Holidays

• Eye Examination: A routine eye test is important for eye care and people tend to have allergies and light sensitivity.
• Vision Health Check: Without discomfort, it may be the perfect time to have an eye health assessment since many people will celebrate the festivals.
• Visit an Eye Specialist Hospital: Scan your eyes if you are feeling ill as early treatment will minimize suffering in future cases.

9. What Eye Problems Are Common During Diwali and How Can they Be Solved

Common Issues:

• Allergic Conjunctivitis: Symptoms include redness, watering, and itching due to exposure to various indoor and outdoor irritants.
• Corneal Abrasions: Particulates in the atmosphere can cause scratches on the cornea resulting in blurred vision and discomfort.

Addressing Issues:

• Use safety glasses so particles do not get into the eyes.
• Don’t seek treatment on your own, rather report to the doctor if you have any pain.

10. After-Diwali Eye Car: Importance of Eye Management Following the Celebration

What to do with Your Eyes After the Holidays:

• The use of screens and aggressive lighting should be avoided for a certain period to enable the eyes to recuperate from fatigue.
• Use purifying devices or plant growth in the house to maintain clean air within the house in case any air pollutants remain.
• Eye Relaxation: if you are still feeling dry eyes after rest and using lubricating drops, please, remember to dry out your eyeballs.

Guidelines for Taking Care of the Eyes during Diwali

• Shield eyes from the adverse effects of pollution: Avoid smoke exposure and wear spectacles.
• Supervise brightly decorated interiors: Reduce time spent looking directly at bright lights.
• Protect children from harm: Watch over kids and wear protective masks where necessary.
• Do not rub the eyes: Do not cause any irritation by keeping the hands clean and away from the face.
• Should call on an Eye specialist hospital: Go to the hospital if the discomfort or injury persists.
• Eye Exam Appointment: Don’t forget regular appointments at a good eye specialist hospital to maintain your vision health.

Diwali is a great time to spend with family and friends, but every so often it is important to take measures to care for the eyes which will not spoil the joy of these great celebrations. During Diwali, focus on your eye care, follow these guidelines, and have a festive, colorful, and eye-retained healthy season!

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Written and Verified by:

DR. KOUSHIK TRIPATHY

MBBS, MD (AIIMS), DNB, FRCS (GLASG), FICO (UK), MNAMS, FAICO (RETINA-VITREOUS AND UVEA)

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