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The festival of colours is right around the corner, and excitement is high. Gulaals have been bought, children have filled their water buckets, and pichkaris have been loaded with water ahead of the celebrations on March 4. A major tradition of Holi is to apply vibrant colours on each other. But amid the revelry, one area that often gets overlooked is eye safety. With synthetic colours, water jets and prolonged sun exposure, eyes are suscpetible to to irritation and infection.

Dr Rimpika Mahajan, Senior Consultant at Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals, shares the risks of reckless Holi celebration on one's eyes. She says, “Every year, eye clinics see a rise in patients just after the festival. Most come in saying the same thing: “It was just a little colour.” The problem is that the surface of the eye is extremely delicate. Many synthetic colours contain chemicals, fine dust or abrasive particles. When these enter the eye, they can cause irritation, redness and sometimes tiny scratches on the cornea, the clear layer at the front of the eye.”

In the same conversation, Dr Mahajan also shared that most people resort to rubbing their eyes upon experiencing irritation, which only makes matters worse. She added, “Rubbing pushes particles deeper and increases the chance of injury. Even dry gulal, when mixed with sweat or water, can turn gritty and more damaging than it appears.”

The doctor also flagged concerns over people who delay treatment and mistake the eye irritation for temporary discomfort. But, she says, “it develops into an infection or a corneal ulcer, which can affect vision if untreated.”

What to do if colour enters the eye while playing Holi?

In other precautionary steps, opt for organic or herbal gulal instead of synthetic colours that may contain harmful chemicals. Artificial dyes can cause redness, itching, a burning sensation and even temporary blurred vision if they enter the eyes. It is also advised to play Holi while wearing sunglasses, which will also add to your fashion game. Once the festivities are over, wash your face carefully. Splash water gently over closed eyes first, then clean around the eyelids without applying pressure. Avoid harsh soaps near the eye area.