Opening a bottle of champagne properly prevents eye injuries

SAN FRANCISCO – The pop of a champagne bottle may be a festive sound over the holidays, but the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds revelers that injuries from improperly opening bottles of sparkling wine are among the most common holiday-related hazards.

“A bottle of champagne can be a wonderful holiday treat, but people need to be careful popping the cork,” said Wayne Bizer, DO, a clinical correspondent for the Academy. “Warm bottles of champagne and poor technique in removing the cork can result in serious, blinding eye injuries. Knowing the right way to open a bottle of champagne will make your holiday both merry and safe. We want people to ring in the New Year with good eye health.”

Here are some tips on opening a bottle of champagne properly:

• Be aware that a recently shaken bottle increases the risk of eye injury.
• Make sure sparkling wine is chilled to at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit before opening. The cork of a warm bottle is more likely to pop unexpectedly.
• Hold down the cork with the palm of your hand while removing the wire hood. Point the bottle away from yourself and others at a 45-degree angle. Place a towel over the entire top and grasp the cork, slowly and firmly twisting it to break the seal.
• Keep the bottle at a 45-degree angle, hold it firmly with one hand and use the other hand to slowly turn the cork with a slight upward pull. Continue until the cork is almost out of the neck. Counter the force of the cork using slight downward pressure just as the cork breaks free from the bottle.

For more information about eye safety and eye health, please visit www.GetEyeSmart.org.

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About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
AAO is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons—Eye M.D.s—with more than 27,000 members worldwide.  Eye health care is provided by the three “O’s” – opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.