While the consumption of carbonated beverages increases in the summer months, many people suffer eye injuries due to not being careful when opening bottle caps, and some lose their eyesight. Salihli Private Medigüneş Hospital Ophthalmology Specialist Op. Dr. Seçkin Meriçeli said that carbonated beverage bottles are now on the list of causes of eye injuries following work accidents.
“It causes permanent eye loss”
Warning that soda caps should never be opened with tools such as lighters or spoons, Op.Dr.Seçkin Meriçeli said, “Trying to open a bottle without using a bottle opener may damage your eyes due to the pressure effect.” Op.Dr.Meriçeli said, “It is necessary to be careful when opening the caps of carbonated beverages.” He added: “It is very dangerous to try to open the bottle caps with tools such as lighters or spoons. Carelessly opening the cap may cause eye damage due to the cap popping off due to the pressure inside the bottle. A soda bottle cap hitting the eye like a bullet causes permanent blindness. It is important to use a bottle opener to prevent eye injuries caused by compressed metal bottle caps. “We should expand the use of screw-on caps or use bottle openers,” he said.
“Correct intervention is vital”
Pointing out that the first minutes and even seconds are of great importance in eye injuries, Op. Dr. Meriçeli said, “Although such accidents, which may cause eye punctures and eye protrusion, are among the most important emergency cases, correct intervention is vital because any wrong attempt can lead to irreversible consequences. In accidents where eye injuries occur, the eye must first be covered with a sterile tissue or pad. The eye should never be touched, and if something gets stuck in the eye, one should never try to remove it. Otherwise, there is a risk of the material inside the eye being pulled out. For this reason, he called on the nearest health institution to be consulted without wasting any time.
