EYE-CARE WHILE YOU ENJOY HOLI

Season of colors is back again! Blooming flowers are adding color to it.

Take care while you enjoy Holi.

Holi is a festival liked by people of all generations. The children by now must be ready with their colors and “pichkaries”.

The colors which look so good can be harmful to our eyes or skin. The homemade colors are always better than the synthetic colors. Everybody is aware of it and can make these at home. “Haldi” mixed with flour gives yellow color, while petals of flowers of “Tesu/Palash” give you saffron color. The “Beetroot” pieces soaked in water can give magenta color. Even henna powder, Gulmohar flowers or hibiscus flowers can be used to make colors. These homemade colors are safe to skin and eyes.

The synthetic colors used commonly are actually chemicals. They are available in form of color powders or pastes or watercolors. They contain metals like lead which is bad and harmful to the skin and the eye. The chemicals commonly present are copper sulfite in green color, the lead oxide in black color.

Post Holi there is the rush of patients in hospitals because of skin, eye or general problems. The eyes are most sensitive part of the body and any chemical if goes in the eye will cause mild allergy to severe chemical burn in the eye. The common eye problems which present during the Holi include

-          Allergic Conjunctivitis

-          Chemical burn

-          Corneal Abrasion

-          Blunt eye injury

The colors used in Holi if they go in the eye usually cause mild redness and irritation. This, if does not go in a day or two, will need treatment from an ophthalmologist. One should always check if the clarity of vision is affected, they should rush to an eye specialist.

The particles in color powders (shining mica particles in gulal) can cause damage to the cornea. The corneal abrasion is an emergency and one should consult the doctor. The patient will have pain and watering from the eye and if not treated in time can cause ulcer/ infection in the eye.

The balloons used by children during Hoil are most dangerous and can cause blunt eye injury. There can be bleeding within the eye, lens subluxation, macular edema or retinal detachment. These can lead to loss of vision or loss of the eye. These are all eye emergencies and should be taken care of as early as possible.

 

So the important message is that:

-One should avoid synthetic colors and use homemade colors.

- Balloons should not be used at all.

-If any color goes in the eye splash lot of tap water in the eye.  

-Any eye injury if occurs should be taken care of with your ophthalmologist consultation.

 

You should enjoy Holi and have a lot of fun and that too in a safe manner.

For eye checkup, you call us at +91 9891949380 or email us at shad225@gmail.com