18-year-old suffers eye injury after being hit by stray cracker in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: An 18-year-old boy suffered severe eye injuries from a firecracker incident in Kammanahalli late Monday night. He was reportedly hit by a stray firecracker that was thrown in his direction during a local celebration.

Sources at Minto Ophthalmic Hospital, where he is receiving treatment, said that he arrived late Monday night with an injury resulting in blood pooling inside his eye. He was a bystander when the firecrackers were being set off in his neighbourhood.

The explosion near his eye caused bleeding; fortunately, there was no damage to his retina. Currently, he can only see objects within one metre, but with ongoing treatment, doctors believe he may regain normal vision within a few weeks.

“He will need to return for regular follow-up visits after his discharge to prevent complications such as cataract. We are managing his treatment conservatively with eye drops and tablets,” said a doctor at the hospital.

As of Wednesday, no new cases of burns or firecracker injuries were reported, but doctors warn that without adequate precautions, more injuries could occur throughout the week.