Eid al-Adha and Eye Injuries

Holidays are days when all family members come together and spend a happy time. The joy of these days can be overturned by unfortunate accidents. Considering all accidents, the eyes are reported to be the most frequently affected organ, at a rate of about 10%. Since accidents are traumas that occur unexpectedly and harm our bodies, it is important to be aware of situations in which the risk of accidents increases.

Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) is one of the important occasions when eye injuries occur. During Eid al-Adha, eye injuries occur just like injuries to the rest of the body. The main causes of injuries during Eid al-Adha are being kicked, gored or head-butted by the animal during the sacrifice, or accidents that happen while slaughtering the animal and cutting up its meat and bones.

“An important factor in accidents during the sacrifice is the involvement of people who are inexperienced in slaughtering animals.”

During this process, if the head of a person taking part in the slaughter is struck by the animal’s hoof, head or horns, this can lead to accidents that may result in blindness or serious vision loss. Such injuries require immediate hospital care. Blunt trauma can cause fractures of the bones around the eye and entrapment of the eye muscles, as well as rupture of the eyeball itself, dislocation of the lens, bleeding inside the eye, and cracks and tears in the layers at the back of the eye. In addition, being struck by the animal’s horn can cause injuries so severe that the contents of the eyeball are expelled. While bones are being broken, flying bone fragments can become lodged in the eye and may even enter the eye.

In a penetrating eye injury, if blood is flowing from the eye, pressure must never be applied to the eye, not even to wipe away the blood. In such cases, go to the nearest healthcare facility without delay. After the surgery performed as the initial intervention, further operations may be needed. With timely and correct treatment, we are able to prevent loss of the eye or loss of vision in most injuries. However, it should be remembered that no matter how perfectly such eye injuries are repaired, permanent visual loss may develop in some eyes. To avoid such painful outcomes, it is very important to stay away from irresponsible behavior and take precautions.

“It is reported that one in every hundred people experiences at least one eye injury during their lifetime.”

For this reason, we should be aware of situations that carry a risk of eye accidents and act responsibly by taking the necessary precautions. Considering that thousands of people suffer eye injuries in workplace accidents every year because simple precautions such as protective goggles or face shields are not taken, the importance and seriousness of this issue becomes clearer. If we do not want our holidays, which we spend happily with our loved ones, and especially Eid al-Adha, to turn into sorrowful moments that take away our holiday joy, we must stay away from risky situations that can lead to eye injuries and all other injuries.