Lebanon"s doctor battles surge of eye injuries from tech explosions

In Beirut, a surge of eye injuries has overwhelmed hospitals following a series of explosions caused by detonating pagers and walkie-talkies linked to the Hezbollah militant group. The blasts occurred over two days, resulting in at least 39 fatalities and around 3,000 injuries, many of which were severe and life-altering. The victims, primarily young men, children, and women, suffered injuries as they were looking at the devices when they exploded. The explosions have been attributed to an attack believed to be orchestrated by Israel, although this has not been confirmed. Ophthalmologist Elias Jaradeh has been at the forefront of treating the influx of patients, performing numerous eye surgeries while coping with the emotional toll of the situation. He has reported finding plastic and metal shrapnel embedded in the eyes of many victims. The sheer volume of cases has been unprecedented, even for seasoned medical professionals who have dealt with the aftermath of previous conflicts and explosions in Lebanon. Jaradeh, who also serves as a lawmaker, expressed the difficulty of separating his medical duties from the emotional impact of treating so many wounded individuals. He noted that the current crisis has been more intense than previous incidents, such as the Beirut port explosion four years ago, due to the immediate and overwhelming number of eye injuries. The ongoing situation highlights the broader implications of violence in Lebanon, as many of the injured are civilians caught in the crossfire of a conflict that continues to affect the nation deeply. The medical community is grappling with the aftermath, and the long-term consequences for the victims remain uncertain.