Diwali 2026 · Eye Safety Guide

Celebrate the festival of lights, with care for your eyes

Every Diwali, eye specialists see injuries from crackers, sparks, smoke and chemical powder. Most of them are preventable. Here is a simple guide from the eye doctors at Dayal Eye Centre on what to do before, during and after the celebrations, and what to do if something goes wrong.

Call +91 81786 39701 Eye injury first aid

Diwali eye safety tips from Dayal Eye Centre: use protective goggles, keep a safe distance from fireworks, avoid rubbing your eyes, rinse with clean water

The four golden rules

Remember these four, and you have covered most of the risk

If you only read one part of this page, read this.

Wear protective goggles

Use goggles while bursting crackers. They stop sparks and flying debris before they reach the eye.

Keep a safe distance

Stand well back from fireworks once lit, and never lean over a cracker that has not gone off.

Avoid rubbing your eyes

If smoke, ash or dust gets in, rubbing can scratch the cornea. Blink and rinse instead.

Rinse with clean water

For irritation from smoke or particles, gently rinse the eye with plenty of clean water.

Before you celebrate

Get these ready before the first cracker

Two minutes of preparation means you will not be searching for water or a phone number in the dark.

Goggles for everyonePolycarbonate safety goggles for each person bursting crackers, including children.

A bucket of waterKeep one nearby for dud crackers, and a separate jug or bottle of clean water for rinsing eyes.

An open spaceChoose an open area away from cars, dry leaves, windows and narrow lanes.

Long lightersUse a long agarbatti, sparkler or extended lighter so your face stays at arm's length.

Cotton clothesWear fitted cotton clothes. Loose synthetic fabric catches fire easily.

Numbers savedSave your eye hospital and the nearest emergency number in your phone before you step out.

While bursting crackers

What to do and what to avoid

Most Diwali eye injuries happen in a split second: a cracker that goes off late, a rocket that tips over, or a spark from a phuljhadi held too close.

Do

Wear goggles the whole time you are near crackers, not only when you light one.
Light one cracker at a time, then move back quickly to a safe distance.
Keep rockets and aerial shots in a bottle or stand on flat ground, pointing straight up and away from people.
Hold sparklers at arm's length, away from your face and other people's eyes, and drop used ones into water.
If you wear glasses, keep them on and add goggles over them if you can. Regular glasses help a little but are not a substitute for safety goggles.
Contact lens users: switch to glasses for the celebrations. Smoke and ash get trapped behind lenses.

Don't

Never relight a dud cracker or go back to check it. Wait, then pour water over it.
Never lean over a cracker while lighting it, or look into it to see why it has not gone off.
Do not hold crackers in your hand while lighting them or throw lit crackers at anyone, even as a joke.
Do not burst crackers indoors, in balconies or in narrow lanes where sparks bounce back.
Do not rub your eyes if smoke, ash or powder gets in.
Do not put home remedies such as ghee, honey, rose water or oil into the eye after an injury.

Children need an adult at every step

Children are the most likely to be hurt, often while watching rather than lighting. An adult should light the crackers, children should watch from a distance with goggles on, and small hands should only hold sparklers with supervision. Teach them that a cracker which has not gone off is not to be touched.

After the celebrations

Smoke, pollution and dry, red eyes

In Gurugram and the rest of the NCR, the air after Diwali is often heavy with smoke for several days. This can leave eyes red, dry, gritty, watery or burning, especially for people who already have dry eye, allergies, or who wear contact lenses.

These symptoms usually settle once the air clears. If they last more than a couple of days, or if your vision changes, get your eyes checked.

Simple ways to protect your eyes

Stay indoors on days when the air quality is very poor, and keep windows closed.
Wear sunglasses or wraparound glasses when you go out.
Splash your closed eyes with clean water after coming in from outside.
Lubricating eye drops can ease dryness. Ask your eye doctor which kind suits you.
Drink enough water and take screen breaks, as both help with dry eyes.

If something goes wrong

Eye injury first aid

The right first step depends on the type of injury. Rinsing helps some injuries and makes others worse, so check which one applies.

Rinse

Smoke, dust, ash or a small particle

Do not rub the eye.
Blink a few times to let tears wash it out.
Rinse gently with plenty of clean water.
If it still feels like something is in the eye, see an eye doctor.

Rinse right away

Chemical or cracker powder in the eye

Start rinsing immediately with clean running water. Every second counts.
Hold the eyelids open and keep rinsing for at least 15 minutes.
Remove contact lenses if they come out easily.
Go to an eye hospital straight after rinsing, even if it feels better.

Do not rinse or press

A cut, a hit, or something stuck in the eye

Do not rub, press, rinse or try to remove anything stuck in the eye.
Gently cover the eye with a clean shield, such as the bottom of a paper cup, without touching the eye.
Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen, which can increase bleeding.
Go to an eye hospital or emergency department immediately.

Cool water

A burn to the eyelid or face

Cool the skin with clean, cool (not ice cold) water.
Do not apply toothpaste, ointment, ghee or any home remedy.
Do not burst blisters.
If the eyelid or eye is involved, see an eye doctor the same day.

See an eye doctor immediately if there is

Pain that does not settle
Blurred, reduced or double vision
Blood in the eye
Sensitivity to light
Something stuck in the eye
An unusually shaped pupil
Any chemical or powder exposure
Difficulty opening the eye

Call Dayal Eye Centre on +91 81786 39701. Outside our hours, go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Do not wait until morning with a serious eye injury.

Diwali eye safety tips poster by Dayal Eye Centre with four precautions for the festival of lights

Save and share

Share these tips with family and friends

A little care goes a long way for healthy vision. Save this poster on your phone or send it to your family group before the celebrations begin.

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Eye irritation that will not go away?

Our eye specialists can check your eyes and treat injuries, dryness or irritation after the festival. NABH accredited, 20+ years of care in Gurugram.

Sector 15, Gurugram · Mon to Sat, 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Call +91 81786 39701 Book an appointment

Questions

Diwali eye safety FAQs

Are normal spectacles enough to protect my eyes?

They give some protection from smoke and small particles, but they are not designed to stop flying debris and can shatter on impact. Safety goggles made of polycarbonate are the better choice, and many can be worn over spectacles.

Can I wear contact lenses during Diwali?

It is best to switch to glasses while you are around crackers and smoke. Particles and fumes can get trapped under the lens and irritate or injure the eye. If irritation starts while wearing lenses, remove them and rinse your eyes with clean water.

My eyes are red and watery the day after Diwali. Is that normal?

Mild redness and watering from smoke is common and usually settles within a day or two once you are out of the smoke. See an eye doctor if it lasts longer, if there is pain, or if your vision is affected.

Should I wash my eye if a spark hits it?

If a spark or cracker hits the eye directly and there is pain, a cut, bleeding or something stuck in the eye, do not rinse or press it. Cover it gently and go to an eye hospital immediately. Rinsing is for smoke, dust, ash and chemical powder.

This page is general guidance for the festival season and is not a substitute for an examination by an eye doctor. If you are unsure, it is always safer to get the eye checked.

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