December 20th 2023.
It’s the season for popping bottles of bubbly, but experts are warning people to be careful when opening these pressurised bottles.
Cork eye injuries can be a substantial threat to eye health, and can cause serious and permanent damage.
The pressure in a 750ml bottle of champagne or sparkling wine is roughly three times that of a standard car tyre, and can launch the cork up to 13 metres at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.
The force of the cork is so great that it can travel from the bottle to the eye in 0.05 seconds, making the blinking reflex ineffective.
Injuries can cause retina detachment, lens dislocation, permanent blindness, pupil movement issues, and macular degeneration among other conditions.
Love Island star Theo Campbell was left blind in one eye after being hit in the face by a champagne cork in 2019.
To avoid such injuries, experts suggest chilling the bottle before opening to reduce the pressure and cork velocity, pointing the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and others, and pressing down on the cork to counter the upward force.
In the event of an injury, the advice is to seek immediate consultation with an ophthalmologist to minimise the risk of damage.
Researchers have suggested warning labels and alternative packaging materials, such as screw caps, to safeguard people.
A study published in 2005 found that champagne bottle corks were responsible for 20% of eye injuries in the US and 71% in Hungary, and a 2009 review of 34 cases of eye injuries caused by corks and caps from sparkling wine bottles in Italy found numerous complications.
So, while it might be tempting to pop that bubbly in celebration, it’s best to take precautions to ensure your safety. Let’s toast to an excellent new year, and keep the sparkle in our eyes!
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