“Once you’ve seen what fireworks can do to your eyes, you look at New Year’s Eve very differently. Every bang feels like a warning. It makes it clear how quickly things can go wrong.”

How are you feeling about the upcoming New Year’s celebration?

“To be completely honest? I find it pretty nerve-wracking. I was on duty last year, and it really took a toll on me. Around New Year’s Eve last year, I saw several young people with fireworks-related injuries, three of whom had to be examined and treated under anesthesia. You wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Now, when I see how many fireworks are being sold—often with the idea of going all out one last time before the fireworks ban takes effect—I’m really worried.’

As a doctor, how does treating fireworks-related injuries affect you?

“It’s intense. There’s a lot of uncertainty, because people with fireworks-related injuries often also have damage to the rest of their face. They’re then treated by several doctors at the same time. They’re in a lot of pain—sometimes so much that we can only properly assess an eye under anesthesia. You can never be completely sure if there’s more damage than you can see at first glance. Is there perhaps a tear in the eye somewhere? Or is it “just” gunpowder that needs to be removed? And even that’s often quite a challenge, because gunpowder eats into the tissue through a chemical reaction. It’s like having to remove multiple splinters—but inside an eye. What I find most distressing is that the injury is so unnecessary. This never should have happened.”

What kinds of injuries are most common?

“You often see a combination of burns, chemical burns from gunpowder, and a hard blow from the explosion. Sometimes a sharp piece of debris also gets into the eye and creates a small hole in the eyeball. That strong shock can cause a lot of damage: ranging from a tear in the cornea or iris to early-onset cataracts or a retinal detachment. In the worst-case scenario, the damage is so severe that we have to remove the eye. That’s traumatic for everyone. Burns and chemical injuries are also dangerous. It often takes a while to determine how the eye will respond to the damage and the treatment. That’s why it’s very important to remove all the gunpowder from the eye as quickly as possible. The shorter the tissue is exposed, the greater the chance of recovery. If the chemical damage is too severe, the cornea may become permanently cloudy.’

Who is at greater risk: the person crossing the street or the bystander?

“Eye injuries are just as often caused by fireworks set off by someone else as by your own fireworks. Last New Year’s Eve, about 40 percent of eye injuries were caused by fireworks set off by others. In other years, that figure was around 50 percent. So eyes are hit just as often by fireworks set off by bystanders as by fireworks you set off yourself. You don’t have to do anything reckless at all to still end up seriously injured. Many people find this shocking, because with hand injuries, you actually see that this happens more often when you set off fireworks yourself. By the way, did you know that only 8 percent of eye injuries are caused by illegal fireworks? Legal fireworks can therefore cause just as much damage.’

How well do your eyes recover from fireworks-related injuries?

“That depends heavily on the injury. If the eyeball is still intact and we can quickly remove the gunpowder, rinse it thoroughly, and then apply eye drops regularly, there’s a good chance the eye will recover fully. Two out of three people eventually recover fully. But there’s always a risk of permanent damage. This can occur immediately or fairly quickly—such as cataracts, a detached retina, or a tear in the iris. It can also occur later: burns or chemical injuries can cause your cornea to become permanently cloudy. Intraocular pressure can also become too high. Sometimes this happens immediately, but it can also develop years later. Fortunately, the majority of people recover well. But not everyone is so lucky.’

How severe can permanent eye damage be?

“Of the 187 people who suffered eye injuries during last New Year’s Eve, one-third sustained permanent damage. Fifteen eyes were so severely damaged that the patients went blind. Six of those eyes even had to be removed. The impact on daily life can be significant. If both eyes are affected, you can become socially blind. But even damage to just one eye has consequences. Your depth perception decreases. You might not notice this right away in daily life, but for some professions, it’s a major problem—think of pilots or surgeons. So an eye injury can really change your future.”

What can you do to prevent eye injuries caused by fireworks?

“It’s best to leave fireworks to the professionals. If you do find yourself near fireworks, protect yourself with fireworks goggles. They mainly help protect against the blast or the impact of a rocket, but they’re no guarantee. So always keep your distance and be careful if it’s windy. And really, children shouldn’t set off fireworks at all. It feels normal to many people because it’s been done this way for so long. But when you see the kind of damage it can cause, you’ll start to think differently about it.”

This article appeared on the TergooiMC website. Visit the TergooiMC website for tips on setting off fireworks safely and facts about eye injuries and fireworks.