This New Year’s, the odds are high that you’re going to attend a party where someone opens a bottle of champagne. If they do, make sure you’re not standing too close, because a popping cork can seriously injure your eye.

IN THIS ARTICLE...

1. How fast can a cork come out of a bottle?
2. How can a cork damage my eye?
3. How can I protect my eye when opening a bottle?
4. What do I do if a cork hits my eye?

How fast can a cork come out of a bottle?

Champagne bottles are kept under very high pressure. The inside of one bottle can be as high as 90 pounds per square inch, which is higher than the pressure inside your average car tire. When those corks pop, they can fly as fast as 50 miles per hour. And yes, that is fast enough to cause serious, or even permanent, eye damage.

How can a cork damage my eye?

A champagne cork can strike your eye with such force that it can rupture the eye wall, dislocate your lens, detach your retina, cause bleeding, contribute to glaucoma, or even break the bones around the eye. In some cases, these injuries can be so severe that they can blind you. Even an indirect hit to the eye can cause damage to the drainage angle of the eye that may not become problematic until years later when the eye pressure may start going up. Patients with this kind of injury may need long-term follow-up care to prevent late stage permanent vision loss.

How can I protect my eye when opening a bottle?

Fortunately, a few preventative steps can lower the risk of cork-related injuries. First, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends you chill the bottle so it’s colder than 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The corks of warm bottles are likelier to pop unexpectedly. Second, don’t shake the bottle, as this can increase the speed at which the cork is projected from the bottle. Next, make sure you hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and other partygoers. Then, place a towel over the top of the bottle. Finally, twist the bottle while holding the cork. Applying downward pressure can counter the pressure inside the bottle.

What do I do if a cork hits my eye?

If a cork does strike you, seek medical attention immediately. Every injury you may receive from an errant cork is one you’d want treated right away.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor.