In a week of Christmas parties and festive fizz, eye surgeons in Bradford have warned of the perils of the celebratory champagne.

Misdirected champagne corks are one of the leading causes of eye accidents that result in an A&E visit.

Mr Amir Hamid, eye surgeon at at Optegra Eye Hospital Yorkshire, in Apperley Bridge, states: “While human biology means the eyeball is designed to be protected by the eye socket bones, small and fast-flying champagne corks are smaller than that area and can cause great damage as they hit the eyes.

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“Ophthalmic A&E is an incredibly busy place of the winter months, and at Christmas, we treat many people who fall victim to a misguided ‘pop’ of a champagne cork!

"As it travels at such speed, up to 55 miles an hour, it can cause damage and bruising to the cornea – the outer layer of the eye – as well as more extensive damage to the very fragile inner parts of the eye. Some of these cases may well require surgery to fix.”

Wine expert, Gavin Kean from leading winemaker Chapel Down, offers the following advice:

  • Chilling to correct temperature (6 to 10 degrees C) helps reduce the risk of the cork popping too quickly
  • Remove the foil and loosen the cage
  • The cork must be held securely in place from the moment the wire cage is loosened
  • Tilt the bottle at a 30 degree angle. Grip the cork and use the other hand to grip base of the bottle
  • Turn bottle not cork
  • Hold the bottle steady, resisting its tendency to fly out, and ease it out of the bottle
  • The sound should be a quiet ‘phhhuut’ and not a pop and exploding cork.

Further advice which ophthalmic surgeons give to keep our precious eyes safe this Christmas is:

  • all champagne bottles should be opened facing away from people
  • turn head to the side as you lift your turkey roast out of the oven, when oil may spit
  • wash make-up off, even after a late Christmas party, to reduce risk of infection
  • always take contact lenses out before bed

Other eye accidents which cause A&E visits include:

  • eye infections and inflammation
  • foreign bodies in the eye such as cement dust and metal from grinding
  • chemical accidents such as bleach in the eyes
  • sports trauma such as being hit in the eye by a ball

Optegra Eye Hospital Yorkshire is one of 23 international eye hospitals and clinics, bringing together leading edge research, medical expertise and state-of-the-art surgical equipment.

Its top ophthalmic surgeons are renowned for their areas of expertise, offering excellent clinical outcomes for the A to Z of eye health care.

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