The festival of colors is around the corner. While we prepare our gear for Holi, it becomes increasingly necessary to practice certain preventive measures to enjoy the festival safely. From selecting the right eyewear to avoiding synthetic, chemically loaded colors, it needs to be ensured that folks refrain from advocating the kind of wildness that often becomes synonymous with the celebrations. Certainly, Holi is better enjoyed when played responsibly.  

Right eyewear: Holi involves colors in the form of powders as well as fluids, hence it becomes mandatory to use good-quality, protective eye gear to prevent our eyes from getting exposed to any sort of harmful chemicals. Ideally, good quality sunglasses will give you the required protection. 

Avoid wearing contact lenses while playing colors: While eyewear acts as a mechanical barrier and can be removed immediately in case of any exigency, the removal of contact lenses would require us to touch our eyes in the process, thereby contaminating our eyes further. Often colored water or color gets trapped in the contact lenses, which irritates them, and removing them with uncleaned hands might lead to certain infections. Hence it is always advisable to avoid wearing contact lenses during Holi celebrations.  

Use organic or herbal colors: It is always advisable to use organic or herbal colors for the occasion of Holi,  in place of synthetic colors. Synthetic colors might contain hazardous compounds like heavy metal particles, which might cause severe corneal infections if our eyes get exposed to them. Organic or herbal colors are comparatively tender to our eyes and prevent our eyes from getting exposed to hazardous compounds.  

Keep clean water handy: Clean water provides a prompt remedy in a lot of cases, especially during Holi celebrations. Often our eyes get exposed to color dust or colored water, despite practicing precautionary measures, hence it is always advised to keep clean water handy. Frequent splashes of clean water provide speedy relief to minor irritations caused while playing with colors.  

Article Courtesy- GKB Opticals