Firework-related Eye Injuries Study Questionnaire

July 14, 2026

January 2018
Dear ICO Member Society Leaders,
The ICO is pleased to send our Member societies a very important study questionnaire that is especially relevant following New Year festivities. The Firework-related Eye Injuries Study was initially instigated by the Netherlands Ophthalmological Society and is now available online for all to participate.

In all countries, eye injuries are a recurrent problem every New Year. In Europe, the banning of consumer fireworks is not only a national concern, but affects all of the European Union due to free trading. As such, the Netherlands Ophthalmological Society is proposing a ban on commercial fireworks in Europe. In an effort to do this, data is being collected within Europe and around the world to provide a worldwide perspective on firework-related eye injuries by capturing as many results as possible. The final data will be shared with all participating countries through the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE).

We are asking you to send this questionnaire to your members to complete if they have seen patients with injuries related to fireworks. The form is available until January 31, 2018. You may also want to reference the ICO position paper endorsing a global ban on consumer fireworks, which we hope has been a good advocacy tool for you.

Dr. Jan Tjeerd de Faber, SOE President, is very appreciative of your help to put this necessary data on the desk of all EU governments. We both thank you for sending the Firework-related Eye Injuries Study to your society members as soon as possible.

Best wishes,

Professor Hugh Taylor, AC, MD President, International Council of Ophthalmology University of Melbourne, 2017 Bouverie Street, Carlton, 3053,

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