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As year-end gatherings such as Christmas parties continue to take place, caution is needed when opening a bottle of champagne. This is because if you accidentally open the champagne cork, there is a high possibility that the cork will fly off quickly and hurt your eyes.
On the 25th, the team of Dr. Ethan Weissberg, an ophthalmologist from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, published an article entitled “Champagne corks and eye injuries” in the famous BMJ (British Medical Journal) and stated: “The injuries eyes caused by corkscrews are a significant threat to eye health, so they should be avoided during the holiday season. “You have to be careful,” he said. “If the cork, which moves from the bottle to the eye within 0, 05 seconds, touches the eye, blindness and retinal detachment (a condition in which the retina detaches from the inner wall of the eye) may occur.”
According to research, the pressure inside a 750ml bottle of champagne or wine is about three times that of a car tyre. Therefore, the bottle cap can fly up to a distance of 13 meters (m) at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers (km) per hour.
Additionally, small corks pose a greater risk of eye damage than soccer or basketballs. This is because when it hits the eye, the bones around the eye do not absorb the shock and the eyeball itself receives the shock.
There are also cases of vision loss. Theo Campbell, a TV journalist who appeared on the British dating show Love Island, underwent two surgeries after being hit by a cork in 2019, but ended up losing the sight in his right eye.
How to safely uncork a bottle of champagne (Screenshot from the “Christmas Special 2023” page of the internationally renowned medical journal BMJ)
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines, there are five main steps to pop a cork safely. It is best to cool the champagne first and then open the bottle. This is because the bubbles in the bottle are made of gas that expands more when hot.
Also, before opening the bottle of champagne, you need to tilt it 45 degrees in the direction away from people. Next, you need to slowly unscrew the metal cage (wire fastening) by pressing the cap with the palm of your hand. Subsequently, it is a good idea to hold the cork firmly by wrapping the mouth of the bottle with a towel.
Finally, twist the bottle slightly until the cap loosens, then push the cap down to remove it.
The researchers said: “After an injury, personalized management by an ophthalmologist is required. A prompt consultation with an ophthalmologist is essential to minimize the risk of vision problems.”
woobi123@news1.kr
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