Fireworks Eye Safety - Bella Eye Care Optometry

Fireworks are fun. So fun, we treat them like toys. Yes, toys that require a match, but toys nevertheless. Every year thousands of people, many of them children, suffer eye injuries in the US. Not to cast a shadow on anyone’s 4th of July, but 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.

  • Here are some fireworks safety tips we would like to share. Respect safety barriers at fireworks shows and view fireworks from at least 500 feet away.
  • Do not touch unexploded fireworks; instead, immediately contact local fire or police departments to help.
  • Never let young children play with fireworks of any type, even sparklers.
  • People who handle fireworks should always wear protective eyewear that meets the parameters set by the American National Standards Institute and ensure that all bystanders are also wearing eye protection.
  • Leave the lighting of professional-grade fireworks to trained pyrotechnicians.

In case of a fireworks injury:

  • Seek medical attention immediately.
  • Do not rub your eyes.
  • Do not rinse your eyes.
  • Do not apply pressure.
  • Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye.
  • Do not apply ointments or take any blood-thinning pain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen.

Wishing you a wonderfully fun and safe Independence Day!