New Delhi: AIIMS has reported carbide gun-related eye injuries for the first time in the city this Diwali, along with a sharp rise in firecracker-linked ocular trauma. One hundred and ninety patients with serious eye injuries were treated at the hospital emergency, a 19% increase from last year. “Out of them, about 60 required emergency surgery on Diwali night,” said Dr Radhika Tandon, professor of ophthalmology and chief of Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences.Of these patients, over 83% were young males with a mean age of 20 years. Nearly 51% of the injuries occurred on Diwali; most were brought to the hospital the same day or the next morning. Forty-four percent of them were from Delhi-NCR and the rest mostly from other parts of UP and Haryana. Nearly 17% suffered injuries in both eyes and 25% severe vision loss. Another 25% had moderate impairment. Around 44% suffered open-globe injuries, requiring immediate surgical repair to preserve eye structure and residual vision. The rest were rushed to hospital with chemical burns or blunt trauma from sparks, debris and gases emitted by firecrackers. “The most alarming thing this year was severe chemical burn injuries caused by carbide-based firecrackers, a trend we’ve never seen before in Delhi,” said Tandon. “We treated 18 such cases, where corneas had turned opaque, and small metal particles were embedded in the eyes due to violent chemical reactions.”The carbide gun is a DIY rudimentary device mostly assembled at home. When water is added to calcium carbide packed in a plastic pipe, acetylene gas is produced that explodes when ignited. This can cause severe chemical and thermal burns to the eye. The explosion is unpredictable. “So, if people peep into the pipe in case of a delayed chemical reaction, the accumulated gas can burst directly into their eyes. Others can be hit by debris when the blast goes out of control,” Tandon said. Dr Namrata Sharma, professor at RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, said the pattern of injuries shows social media-driven experimentation can turn dangerous. “Carbide-based devices are extremely hazardous. Even a minor lapse can cause irreversible corneal damage and permanent blindness,” she said. Carbide guns were previously used by farmers in south India to scare away animals, but this year, some teenagers in Delhi-NCR started assembling them on Diwali, leading to the first such cases in the region. Out of the 190 patients at AIIMS, 80 to 90 underwent surgery, while others continue to receive treatment. “Some will recover partially, but full restoration of pre-injury vision is rare,” Tandon said. “Many will require corneal transplants or cosmetic correction later.” Doctors at AIIMS have urged stricter enforcement of firecracker regulations, monitoring of online sales and a ban on carbide-based devices. “Festivals are meant to bring light, not darkness in our lives.”