Ophthalmologist Stefan van Hartveld is happy with the national fireworks ban. His profession has been arguing for this for some time. On Tuesday it was announced that a large majority of the House of Representatives is now also for that. Not a day early, if it is up to Van Hartveld. Although Willem van Ansem, who lost his view of both eyes due to fireworks, has doubts about this decision.
According to the Dutch ophthalmic company, it was the year last year with the most fireworks victims with an eye injury in ten years. This was also noticeable at the Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital in Tilburg where Stefan van Hartveld is an ophthalmologist. “There were really many fireworks victims in the last two years,” he says. “It just causes so much misery.” Van Harteveld hopes that the ban will change this.
Prohibition can be counterproductive
Willem van Ansem is fireworks victim. At the age of 16, he lost his view of both eyes in the New Year’s Eve of 2022 when he wanted to set a broken rocket with a cigarette. Despite his injuries, he is against a fireworks ban. “It has just been very stupid what I have done myself, but fireworks stays beautiful. If you use it wisely, nothing is wrong.”
He also thinks that the measures can be counterproductive. “If you can no longer buy legal fireworks, only heavier fireworks come in from abroad. I think the accidents will only get bigger.”
Eye damage often irreversible
According to the ophthalmologist, you cannot prevent illegal fireworks and handling them unwise. “But I hope that when it is sold much less, we also see much fewer victims. Last year 40% of the victims were bystanders. Those are people who have nothing to do with it and still be injured. People sometimes forget that you can also suffer irreparable damage.”
