The pressure inside a bottle of bubbly can launch a cork at 50 miles per hour and it can lead to serious eye injuries.

The Red Ryder BB Gun is beginning to seem tame in comparison, eh?

”When a cork flies, you really have no time to react and protect your delicate eyes,” said Dr. Monica L. Monica, an ophthalmologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. ”Uncontrolled corks can lead to painful eye injuries and devastating vision loss. We don’t want anyone to end up ringing in the year on an ophthalmologist’s surgery table.”

With New Year’s Eve in the offing, it’s crucial to bone up on these uncorking safety tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology:

— Chill sparkling wine and champagne to 45 degrees Fahrenheit or colder before opening. The cork of a warm bottle is more likely to pop unexpectedly.

— Don’t shake the bottle. Shaking increases the speed at which the cork leaves the bottle thereby increasing your chances of severe eye injury.

— Point the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and any bystanders and hold down the cork with the palm of your hand while removing the wire hood on the bottle.

— Place a towel over the entire top of the bottle and grasp the cork.

— Twist the bottle while holding the cork at a 45 degree angle to break the seal. Counter the force of the cork using downward pressure as the cork breaks free from the bottle.

Who knew that bubbly could be just as lethal as a Red Ryder BB Gun? Just be careful when you launch those high-speed corks.