Ask the Doctor: Prolonged exposure of contact lens to firecrackers will irritate the eyes

Along with individuals who handle crackers, more than 50 percent bystanders are at high risk of sustaining eye injuries. The other major causualities are street by-passers who are exposed to ignited firecrackers in the streets. The severity of ocular injury can range from mild irritation and corneal abrasions to retinal complications and open globe injury leading to potential blindness. Contact lenses may cause irritation to the eyes if exposed to direct heat for a long time. People wearing contact lenses should be doubly cautious while bursting crackers. The damage of the eye by a cracker depends on the velocity of the cracker or the intensity with which it hits the eye, chemical reaction in the eye and thermal burns.

Childhood obesity is increasing at a fast rate in urban India. Obese children usually develop breathing problems and find it difficult to exercise. They are also at risk of hypertension, osteoarthritis, high cholesterol, triglycerides, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, respiratory problems and emotional disturbances. The main cause of obesity in childhood is the change in food habits where the child consumes foods containing empty calories and poor nutrition value especially junk foods. Physical inactivity or lack of moving the body for longer period have contributed to a major increase in calorie consumption as compared to calorie expenditure.