Q&A: Chill champagne, open slowly to avoid injury
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When they are popped in a celebratory fashion, champagne corks can leave the bottle at speeds up to 60 mph.
When these collide with the eye, there is ample opportunity for serious injury and vision-compromising complications.
Healio/Ocular Surgery News spoke with Fasika Woreta, MD, MPH, the incoming president of the American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma, about the potential dangers of corks leaving bottles at high speeds.
Healio/OSN: How common are ocular injuries from champagne corks around the holidays?
Woreta: According to a retrospective review of serious eye injuries caused by bottles of pressurized drinks, champagne corks are responsible for 20% of eye injuries caused by bottle tops or caps.
Healio/OSN: What is the primary concern you have when considering the damage corks can cause around the holidays?
Woreta: Champagne corks are highly pressurized, and an uncontrolled cork can travel at speeds up to 60 mph, causing serious damage to the eye such as rupture of the eye wall, sight-threatening contusions and fractures to the bones around the eyes.
Healio/OSN: What are some long-term effects of serious traumatic damage, such as what might occur if someone is hit in the eye with a cork while popping a bottle of champagne?
Woreta: Champagne cork injuries can cause damage to the retina or optic nerve, leading to permanent visual impairment or blindness. Over time, patients may develop glaucoma, cataract or retinal detachments.
Healio/OSN: What should be the course of action for someone who is hit with a cork?
Woreta: Seek immediate attention in the Emergency Department or from an ophthalmologist.
Healio/OSN: Do you have any recommendations for reducing the likelihood of these types of injuries around the holidays?
Woreta: Open champagne bottles safely by first chilling champagne bottles to prevent pressure buildup, pointing the bottle downward and away from yourself and others, holding the cork down when removing the wire wrapping and then gently pulling the cork out to prevent flying corks.
Healio/OSN: Do you think there will be more incidents of ocular trauma caused by corks this year due to the likelihood that more people are getting together?
Woreta: With more people gathering for the holiday this year compared with last year, it is possible we see more champagne cork injuries this year. Please take precautions to avoid devasting eye injuries of yourself and your guests.
- References:
- How to pop a champagne cork without harming your eye. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/injuries-champagne. Accessed Dec. 23, 2021.
- Kuhn F, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2004;88(1):69-71. doi:10.1136/bjo.88.1.69
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