1 Department of Ophthalmology, Washington Hospital Center, 110 Irving Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20010
An exploding firecracker drove a large plastic fragment into the eye of a 9-year-old boy. Eventual extrusion of this intraocular foreign body necessitated removal of the eye. The eye of another boy was ruptured by a firecracker a few days before the fourth of July, resulting in permanent severe visual loss. Eternal vigilance in prohibiting the sale of firecrackers is necessary to prevent such injuries.