Holi 2022: Tips to protect your eyes from colour

Holi is nearing. The festival of colours brings a lot of joy, delight, fun, food, and laughing with it. This is the time of year when houses and streets are decked out in bright colours, people return from faraway cities to celebrate with their families, friends, and loved ones, and people gorge themselves on delectable food and beverages.

This year’s Holi will be held on March 18. Holika Dahan is celebrated a day before Holi, and it has a lot of mythological connotations and significance. Lord Vishnu is said to have rescued his follower Prahlad from the clutches of Prahlad’s father, the demon king Hiranyakashipu, and his sister Holika, on this day, and destroyed the evil. As a result, Holi symbolises the triumph of good over evil. This year, Holi falls on March 18th. Holika Dahan is celebrated a day before Holi, and it has a lot of mythological connotations and significance.

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Holi is celebrated with a lot of pomp and ceremony all around the country. This is the time of year when individuals like experimenting with colours. Kids bring out their water guns, water balloons, and gulaal, and smear each other’s faces. Holi, on the other hand, is a period when hazardous colours have the potential of entering into your eyes and skin, causing ailments. Even though we are often told to play Holi carefully, we may be exposed to dangerous chemicals used in the preparation of the colours. So, how can we find the appropriate balance between having a good time while also staying safe?

Rishi Bhardwaj, HOD, Opthalmology, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram, told HT Lifestyle that wearing protective gear when playing Holi is essential. People can shield their eyes from colours by using protective eyeglasses, zero-power glasses, or sunglasses, according to him.

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He also suggested that natural colours be utilised for Holi to avoid harming the body, particularly the eyes. “In addition, the majority of the colours on the market may contain harmful compounds like asbestos, mercury, silica, mica, and lead. These are extremely harmful to the skin and eyes and can cause irritation, redness, and allergies. As a result, traditional natural colours made from flowers and turmeric are always preferable,” he noted.

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Contact lenses should also be avoided while playing Holi, according to Rishi Bhardwaj. When colours enter the eye, they are more likely to settle in contact lenses. He went on to say that we shouldn’t wipe our eyes with our hands since it can cause a corneal abrasion.