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Fireworks: The Blinding Truth That Happens Every Year
Posted by: Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute in Worth Sharing...
Thousands of people, many of them children, suffer eye injuries from fireworks each year in the United States. In the most severe cases, fireworks can rupture the globe of the eye, cause chemical and thermal burns, corneal abrasions and retinal detachment — all of which can permanently cause eye damage and affect vision.
As reported by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, according to the most recent fireworks injury report (PDF) from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks injuries in the United States caused nearly 10,500 injuries requiring treatment in emergency rooms. The report also showed that nearly 1,300 eye injuries related to fireworks were treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2014, more than double the 600 reported in 2012.
“Unsafe use of fireworks can cause potentially blinding complications. Even something basic as a sparkler can burn hot enough to cause major damage to the surface of the eye,” says Florida Eye’s Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy & Medical/Surgical Retina Specialist Joseph Nezgoda. “If you do see flashes of light when not watching fireworks see your retina specialist.” Fireworks Safety Tips.
