Bengaluru: Firecracker injuries threaten vision; two infants among victims

Shabnam undergoing medical care at Minto Eye Hospital after a firecracker accident during Deepavali celebrations severely damaged her eye, in Bengaluru on November 9, 2026.

Firecracker-related eye injuries continue to take the sparkle out of the festival of lights, with several people facing the risk of partial or near-total vision loss this Deepavali too. Children, including infants as young as three and five months, are among those affected, while bystanders account for a significant share of the victims.

At the State-run Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, 12 of the 20 patients treated over the three days till November 9 suffered grievous injuries. Significantly, 13 were bystanders who were watching others burst crackers or happened to be nearby. The remaining seven were injured while bursting crackers themselves.

The cases included 10 male and two female patients, apart from eight children. A 12-year-old boy from Doddaballapur suffered a ruptured eyeball after being hit by a firecracker burst by another person and is at risk of partial vision loss. Eight patients sustained minor injuries, while 12 suffered grievous injuries. Four have been admitted, with two requiring surgery. Doctors said the extent of vision loss could be assessed only after three to six months.

Bijili crackers accounted for six injuries, while five patients could not identify the crackers responsible. Other cases involved flower pots, bombs, Lakshmi crackers and rockets.

Narayana Nethralaya, across its Rajajinagar, Bommasandra, Bannerghatta Road and Whitefield centres, reported 60 patients between November 6 and 9, including 30 children below 18 years and 15 bystanders. One patient required surgery, while the others were managed medically.

Naren Shetty, Director of the Rajajinagar centre, expressed concern over the high proportion of children among the injured and urged parents to supervise them and ensure they maintain a safe distance while bursting crackers.

Sankara Eye Hospital documented 26 firecracker-related injury cases till November 9, involving patients aged between three months and 46 years. Its records included three-month-old and five-month-old infants among those who suffered injuries.

Thermal and chemical burns, blunt trauma, corneal abrasions and eyelid injuries were among the commonly reported injuries. One patient suffered a globe rupture and required evisceration with orbital implant placement, doctors said.

At Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital, a nine-year-old boy sustained a right-eye injury after a firecracker exploded near him while he was standing in a park. Brought to the hospital within 10 to 15 minutes, his vision was initially limited to hand movements. Doctors diagnosed hyphema (bleeding inside the eye) and elevated intraocular pressure.

“Timely intervention was crucial, as delay could have caused permanent vision loss. He is currently doing much better and has been advised to continue treatment,” said Raksha Jagdishprasad Vaishnav, Surgeon – Cataract and Glaucoma at the hospital.

Doctors said most firecracker-related eye injuries are preventable and urged people to exercise caution during celebrations. Children should never be allowed to handle firecrackers without adult supervision and must be kept at a safe distance from the point of ignition. Protective eyewear, preferably shatter-resistant glasses, should be worn not only by those bursting crackers but also by family members and bystanders watching nearby.

They also cautioned against holding lit firecrackers in one’s hand or attempting to relight crackers that fail to ignite. In the event of an eye injury, people should not rub or apply pressure to the affected eye or try home remedies. Instead, they should seek immediate medical attention from an ophthalmologist, as timely treatment can help prevent further damage and improve the chances of preserving vision.