safe eyes safe holi

safe eyes safe holi

holi is indian festival and celebrated all around the india so
one must remember that these colours, which are bright and attractive, have a high chemical content and can do a lot of damage, especially to our eyes and skin.

Natural colours made from home-based stuff are a much better and healthier option. These can be easily made, and offer a safer option to the synthetic colours. Haldi mixed with besan or flour can give a yellow colour and work as a face-mask at the same time! White petals of tesu/palash can be used to obtain a saffron colour. Beetroot soaked in water provides a bright magenta colour. Henna powder, gulmohar, hibiscus flowers, etc, can also be used to make different colours.

Artificial colours available as powder or paste or water colours are made of chemicals which can be extremely harmful. Apart from causing irritation, they can also lead to toxicity if used in higher doses. The commonly used chemicals include copper sulphite for green colour, lead oxide in black colour, mica granules in gulal and various other heavy metals. These can cause skin allergies, dermatitis, rhinitis, asthma and allergic pneumonitis.

It is indeed unfortunate that a festival of goodwill and celebration can turn into one of grievous injury and pain if we are not careful. After Holi a lot of people have to rush to hospitals with significant damage not only to their eyes and skin but other organs too.

The eye injuries include:

• allergic conjunctivitis
• chemical burns
• corneal abrasion
• blunt trauma to the eye

If these colours enter the eye while playing, they cause mild redness and irritation which usually subsides after washing copiously with water. However, if there is intense pain and burning sensation, one must get an opinion from an ophthalmologist. Also, if the clarity of vision is affected, a eye doctor must be consulted.

The granular particles which make the colours shine brightly are quite toxic and can cause damage to the cornea in the form of a corneal abrasion. A person who gets a corneal abrasion will have severe pain and watering and, if not treated by an en expert, may develop an ulcer or infection.

Water balloons can be most dangerous and cause blunt trauma to the eyes which may lead to bleeding, lens subluxation or dislocation, macular edema or retinal detachment. This may result in a loss of vision or even loss of an eye. These are all eye emergencies and need to be looked into immediately.

Points to remember:

• Avoid synthetic colours and use home-made ones
• Do not use balloons AT ALL
• If any colour goes into the eye, wash the eye instantly with clean tap water
• Do not use any eye medication on your own
• In case of severe pain/ reduction of vision/ persistent redness or watering, consult an ophthalmologist immediately

ENJOY WHEN HOLI CAME SAFELY