Holi is a festival of colors that we all look forward to. We get together with our friends and family to eat, dance, laugh, and celebrate. However, it is important to remember that the colors used during Holi should be used with caution as they can lead to serious eye problems. The same or different colors in powder form can lead to irritation or even infections which can be long lasting.
If you plan to participate in Holi celebrations, do not forget to use a protective layer such as coconut oil, petroleum jelly, or aloe vera gel on your skin and right under the eye area. This barrier helps in two aspects, it firstly reduces the chances of color powders being stuck to your skin unnecessarily and also reduces dryness and irritation.
Wearing sunglasses or goggles during the day can protect your eyes to a great extent. You can also try sports goggles or wrap around glasses. Sunglasses act as a shield for you protecting your eyes from chemical exposure and direct color powders or even water splashes. Effective use of these simple objects can reduce unneeded irritation and help you enjoy the celebrations without worry.
For those who enjoy wearing a contact lens, avoiding them altogether during Holi is wise. The colors can fall behind the lens and on the eye leading to infections, irritation, and discomfort of some sorts. It would be wiser to use prescription glasses or safety glasses for the occasion to protect your eyes.
After playing Holi, splash your eyes lightly with clear water that is a bit warm. Steer away from strong soaps or rough scrubs near your eyes, as they can cause irritation and dryness. If there are any traces of color left, remove them with a cotton ball dipped in clean water.
If you suffer from dryness or irritation, lubricating your eyes with eye drops will ease the discomfort. They also help clear out small particles of color and thus provide comfort. In the case of redness or irritation, do not self-medicate and consult a doctor instead.
If you notice prolonged redness, swelling, pain or blurry vision, visit an eye specialist without hesitation. Letting discomfort of the eye go can lead to great infections or complications.
✅ Rinse with cold water - spray your eyes with clean water of at least room temperature; it helps more if the water is colder. Do not rub your eyes!
✅ Use lubricating eye drops - helps, especially in waking up with dry eyes and irritated skin around the eyes.
✅ Blink rapidly - With repeated blinking, the eye can sneeze out with a little help.
✅ Apply a cold compress - Redness developers and gaps in the body become irritated and compressed.
✅ Use rosewater - Eye calmed irritation can be solved with rosewater as a remedy.
✅ Seek medical help - An eye doctor is the best professional to an eye specialist if the irritation is out of control and vision becomes impaired.
Joy is the essence of the festival of Holi and that joy can be maximized by taking some simple measures regarding eye care. To protect your eyes from any sort of Holi related damage, having a game plan both before the festival and during is crucial. Protecting children from compulsory celebrations, treating pets with kindness, along with all these other measures make the festival of Holi more joyful as well as more considerate.
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