Fireworks and eye safety
It's hard to imagine July 4th or New Year's Eve without the dazzling bursts and booms of fireworks. But their explosive power comes with serious risks, especially to your eyes.
Fireworks send thousands of Americans to the emergency room each year, and 19% of fireworks accidents involve an eye injury, according to an annual report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Sadly, some of these accidents lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. They can even be deadly.
Keep these things in mind when you celebrate this year:
- Fireworks can be just as dangerous when you're a bystander.
- Every kind of firework can permanently damage your eyes, even the "safe" ones, like sparklers.
- Professional fireworks shows can be a safe alternative, but it's still important to take certain precautions.
Here's what you need to know to protect your eyesight without missing out on the celebration.
Common eye injuries from fireworks
According to a study of hospital visits over 18 years, the most common fireworks-related eye injuries in the U.S. are:
- Eye burns
- Foreign objects in the eye, such as shrapnel
- Inflammation of the conjunctiva (the thin, clear layer covering the white part of the eye and inner eyelid)
- A ruptured eyeball
Some of these injuries can lead to permanent visual impairment or, in severe cases, total blindness in the affected eyes.
Another study of fireworks accidents in Germany found that 1 in 3 firework-related eye injuries can lead to long-term eye problems. Complications of fireworks injuries may include:
- Corneal scarring – Scars on the clear front part of your eye (cornea) that can cause vision changes and vision loss.
- Exposure keratopathy – Damage to the cornea caused by too much exposure to the air. This can happen when an injury changes your blinking reflex or the way your eyes close during sleep.
- Secondary glaucoma – The pressure inside your eye rises to an unsafe level, which can damage your eyesight if it isn't treated with medicine or surgery.
- Traumatic cataract – Injury-related cloudiness on the normally clear lens inside your eye. This can affect your eyesight, and cataract surgery may be needed to restore your vision.
- Retinal damage – Harmful changes to the retina, a thin layer along the inner back wall of your eye that's vital to your eyesight.
- Phthisis bulbi – The eye becomes shrunken and soft due to a severe injury. By this stage, most or all vision in the eye has been lost.
It can be unsettling to think about eye injuries like these, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family.
Preventive measures for eye safety
While you can take steps to lower your risk, the organization Prevent Blindness warns that there is no completely safe way to use fireworks. The only way to guarantee your eye safety is to:
- Avoid buying, using or storing fireworks.
- Avoid being close to anyone using fireworks.
Nearly 75% of all fireworks-related eye injuries occur at home. If you want to enjoy the spectacle without risking your eyes, watch a professional fireworks show from a safe distance.
Staying safe at home
If you decide to use your own fireworks, make sure they're legal where you live and labeled for consumer use — never use fireworks that are homemade, illegal or labeled for professional use. Fireworks laws may vary depending on your local and state regulations.
Protect your eyesight by following the CPSC guidance:
- Don't put your eyes, hands, or any other part of your body directly over a firework at any time.
- Never touch or relight a "dud" firework that doesn't work. Make sure it's completely soaked with water, then discard it.
- After you use a firework, soak it with water and throw it away.
- Keep a full water bucket or garden hose within reach in case you need to soak a dud firework or put out a fire.
- Don't light more than one firework at a time.
- Don't use fireworks under the influence of drugs or alcohol (even a little bit).
- Don't point fireworks at people.
- Don't throw fireworks.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) also recommends wearing ANSI-certified safety glasses or goggles to protect your eyes against accidents and shrapnel.
Look for “ANSI Z87" on the packaging, which may be followed by other numbers and symbols. You should see “Z87” etched or stamped somewhere on the lens. Standard prescription safety glasses have a "Z87-2" marking.
While eye protection has been proven to reduce eye injuries, keep following the safety precautions listed above. Fireworks can still hurt your eyes and other parts of your body.
Most fireworks-related eye injuries happen to bystanders. If someone else is lighting off fireworks near you:
- Stay at least 500 feet away, just in case there's a misfire or stray rocket.
- Don't touch or get close to unexploded fireworks or "duds" if you see them.
- Wear ANSI-certified eye protection.
If you have kids:
- Never let them use fireworks, even sparklers or other "toy" fireworks.
- Closely supervise them when they're around other fireworks and make sure they're a safe distance away.
- Discourage them from running or playing near fireworks.
- Store fireworks (along with lighters or matches) in a safe place they won't find.
- Have them wear ANSI-certified safety eyewear.
If you're storing fireworks:
- Keep them separated from any fireworks being used.
- Store them in a dry, cool area.
- Carefully follow all instructions on the product packaging.
Staying safe at professional shows
Professional fireworks displays are the safest way to enjoy fireworks without putting your eyes in harm's way, but it's still important to be careful. Remember to:
- Stay at least 500 feet away from any lit fireworks (the farther, the better).
- Stay behind any safety barriers put in place to protect bystanders.
- Don't pick up or touch a dud if you see one on the ground. Call the police or fire department to protect yourself and others.
- Wear ANSI-certified protective eyewear to shield your eyes from stray debris.
READ MORE about common eye injuries and when to get help
Are some fireworks more dangerous than others?
All fireworks can seriously injure your eyes. Be careful whenever you or someone around you is using them.
Bottle rockets, which fly off the ground and explode, are a leading cause of eye-related accidents and usually cause the most serious injuries. The number of fireworks-related eye injuries in Norway was cut in half when the country outlawed bottle rockets.
These types also led to a lot of eye injuries:
- Firecrackers – Known for making a loud "bang" or "pop" noise
- Roman candles – Known for sending fireballs into the air one after another
This doesn't mean other kinds of fireworks are safer. In fact, about half of the people who go to the hospital don't know which kind of firework caused their injury.
Don't underestimate "safe" fireworks
Even seemingly harmless, store-bought fireworks can seriously damage your eyes and vision.
Sparklers are one example: They burn at around 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and are usually held closer to your eyes. The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends not buying them at all.
In two of the earlier reports on emergency room visits, sparklers were:
- The third-leading cause of eye injuries from fireworks, after firecrackers and bottle rockets.
- The second-leading cause of all fireworks injuries around July 4th, following firecrackers.
Novelty fireworks like "snaps" and "poppers" also led to hundreds of hospital visits.
What to do in case of an eye injury
Get medical help right away if you have a fireworks-related eye injury — don't try to treat it yourself.
The AAO recommends following this guidance while you wait for care:
- Don't rub your eyes or put pressure on them.
- Don't rinse your eyes with water or other solutions.
- Don't try to remove anything stuck in your eye.
- Don't take pain medicine that could thin your blood (including aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) unless your doctor says it's okay.
Remember: The best way to prevent eye injuries from fireworks is to leave them to the professionals. Don’t buy or use any type of fireworks, no matter how safe they may claim to be. Perhaps most importantly, never allow kids to play with fireworks.
