[Firework induced Eye Injuries: Diagnostics and Therapy]

Wherever consumer fireworks are used, incidents with eye injuries do occur. In Germany, their number has increased in the past nine years, a clear overrepresentation of minors and bystanders is documented. Eyes are affected by a very individual combination of thermal, chemical and mechanical impact, resulting in minor to most complex injuries to adnexes, eye surface, iris, lens, sclera and/or posterior segment. Diagnostics may be complicated and require a structured approach, that is proposed here. Open globe injuries and intraocular foreign bodies necessitate early surgical intervention. In thermal and chemical burns early rinsing and antiphlogistic therapy is major for prevention of scarring and secondary glaucoma. The need for early or late replacement of limbal stem cells may yet emerge. Consequences of blunt trauma can be traumatic cataract, phakic or pseudophakic lens luxation, ruptures to all structures of the eye with long-term effects such as retinal detachment, choroidal or retinal pigment epithelial rupture and formation of choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV). Medical and surgical strategies are discussed. Despite all proven and innovative care strategies of therapy, functional and cosmetic outcome of fire work induced eye injuries might be impaired. In cases of severe injuries, social security coverage and rehabilitation must be considered early on.