Every year, warm bottles of champagne, coupled with bad cork-removal techniques are responsible for causing serious, potentially blinding eye injuries. According to eye medical doctors in the United States, incorrect popping of champagne corks is one of the most common holiday-related eye hazards. For instance, a cork can fly up to 50 miles per hour as it leaves the bottle, generating a force powerful enough to shatter glass.  Anything that travels with such force can have a dangerous effect upon impact with the eye. Eye-related cork injuries can lead to acute glaucoma, detached retina and staining of the cornea, all of which can result in decreased vision.

In support of Healthy Aging Month this September, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology, along with the American Academy of Ophthalmology, encourages all adults to know what vision changes to expect and when to seek treatment for signs of a disease or condition that could cause irreversible vision loss. To aid in this understanding, the Academy is providing explanations for the following common visual changes adults may experience as they get older.