According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a champagne cork can clock 50 mph as it bursts from the bottle. That's powerful enough to cause permanent eye injury.
Eye doctors have these warnings:
- Make sure sparkling wine is no warmer than 45 degrees Fahrenheit, or the cork is more likely to pop suddenly.
- Don't shake the bottle.
- To open the bottle, hold down the cork with your palm while twisting open the wire hood.
- Point the bottle away from people and place a towel over the top.
- Then slowly twist the bottle while holding the cork, and press downward slightly to control the cork just as it pops free.
