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Health Agencies Issue Holiday Eye-Injury Alerts Over Fireworks and Flying Corks

Specialists report a 20–30% seasonal rise in ocular trauma and urge immediate medical care for burns and eye injuries while avoiding home remedies.

Overview

  • Ophthalmology organizations report a 20–30% increase in eye injuries during Christmas and New Year, tying the surge to celebrations and home activities.
  • Argentina’s Council of Ophthalmology warns fireworks remain a leading source of eye trauma and burns, and notes that even legal pyrotechnics can cause severe harm.
  • Studies cited by CAO and The BMJ indicate sparkling-wine corks can travel near 80 km/h and have left up to 26% of injured patients legally blind, prompting safe-opening advice.
  • Guidance from Minsa and IMSS calls for cooling burns under running water, lightly covering the area, and seeking urgent care, while avoiding creams, oils, toothpaste, or unprescribed drops.
  • Experts emphasize supervising children and using protective eyewear for DIY tasks like hammering or cutting, as young adult men are disproportionately affected in these preventable injuries.