Doctor advises Holi revellers to play it safe

Ten-year-old Nitin Kohli loves playing with his friends. But come Holi, Nitin refuses to step out of his house. “Once bitten, twice shy,” says Seema, Nitin’s mother, explaining that Nitin almost lost his eyesight during Holi last year, when a water balloon hit his right eye.

It was the quick thinking of his parents, who rushed him to the nearest hospital that saved his eyesight. However, the use of toxic products for merrymaking during this festival of colours, although talked about every year, never fails to claim victims.

Every year, city ophthalmologists report an average of 50 patients who come to them with eye complaints. Dermatologists too get nearly 10-15 cases of skin and hair problems.

“Despite emphasising the need to use natural colours, the number of patients with eye problems after playing Holi rise every year,” says Dr TP Lahane, dean of JJ hospital and president of Bombay Ophthalmologists’ Association.

Delineating the colours by their toxicity, Lahane continues, “The green and blue coloured powders contain copper sulphate, which can cause eye and skin irritation and even lead to respiratory problems. The white powder contains aluminum bromide and puts one at a risk of lung and skin cancer, as well as urinary tract problems,” said.

Chemicals and impurities in the powders also lead to hair and skin damage. Those with a history of eczema or atopic dermatitis run greater risk as they may develop allergic contact dermatitis which manifest in itching, rashes and irritation.

“Many people try to remove the colour using kerosene, alcohol and spirit. This only aggravates the skin problem. People should wash with soap and water and let the colour go on its own. There is always a 2% rise in skin and hair-related problems after Holi,” said Dr Pravin Bandodkar, consulting dermatologist, Cumballa Hills hospital.

In addition, water balloons thrown haphazardly can potentially cause chemical conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion (scratch in the cornea) and corneal burns. Many suffer from sore or red eyes for days. A direct hit to the eye can injure the cornea, while acidic colours can cause a chemical burn.

Eye specialist Nisheeta Agarwala, Hinduja hospital offers these words of advice: “People who play Holi must, under no circumstances, wear their contact lenses. Ordinary plastic glasses can be worn instead. In case of an eye injury, the first thing to do would be to wash the eye with lots of water and then seek medical attention.”