Serious eye injuries caused by bottles containing carbonated drinks.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse serious eye injuries caused by bottles containing pressurised drinks.


METHODS
Retrospective review of the databases of US, Hungarian, and Mexican eye injury registries.


RESULTS
In the combined database (12 889 injuries), 90 cases (0.7%) were caused by bottle tops or glass splinters. The incidence varied widely: 0.3% (United States), 3.1% (Hungary), and 0.9% (Mexico), as did the agent. Champagne bottle corks were responsible in 20% (United States), 71% (Hungary; p<0.0001), and 0% (Mexico). Most eyes improved, but 26% remained legally blind.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of warning labels on champagne bottles appears to reduce cork related eye injuries, as does using plastic bottles and caps.
Kuhn
F
F
University of Alabama at Birmingham, and American Society of Ocular Trauma, 1201 11th Avenue South, Suite 300, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA. fkuhn@mindspring.com
Mester
V
V
Morris
R
R
Dalma
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D002253:Carbonated Beverages; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D018857:Food Packaging; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology