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Ravers lose sight at laser show

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Since the Aquamarine Open Air Festival in Kirzhach, dozens of partygoers have been checking into Moscow's hospital complaining of eye and vision problems.

"They all have retinal burns, scarring is visible on them," Kommersant newspaper quotes one health official as saying.

"Loss of vision in individual cases is as high as 80% and regaining it is already impossible," the opthalmologist said.

Heavy rains meant organisers were forced to erect massive tents for the all-night dance party, and lasers that normally illuminate upwards into the sky were instead shone into the ravers' eyes.

"I immediately had a spot like when you stare into the sun," raver Dmitry told Kommersant.

"After three days I decided to go to the hospital. They examined me, asked if I had been at Open Air, and then put me straight in the hospital. I didn't even get to go home and get my stuff," he said.

Industry website www.laserfx.com said focused laser light can cause eye damage almost instantly.

The owner of a Moscow laser rental company said the accidental blindings were due to "illiteracy on the part of technicians".

"It was partly the rain, but also partly the size of the laser," said Valentin Vasiliev.

"Somebody set up an extremely powerful laser for such a small space," he added.

Mr Vasiliev said his company did not provide the Aquamarine lasers.
goldenways

35 responses // Ravers lose sight at laser show

  • That sucks. I hope it was a fun party!
    mookster_07
  • Yeah, hope it was worth the possibility of never seeing again. Wonder if the technicians will face legal troubles?
    piratazephyri
  • and that is why I'm anti-laser parties
    bamboombango
  • This is horrific. You'd never go to a gig if you thought this was going to be the outcome, but you can't always control what's going to happen on the night, like when you go to a gig and the sound's terrible and it hurts your ears. I carry an ear plug wherever I go just in case of dodgy sound engineers - looks like protective glasses are next!
    LindseyIndigo
    1 response to this
  • im sure the "thizz" that eveyone was taking had something to do with it?
    meganash
  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfP58HplSyU
    Reach for the lasers, safe as f**k! Or not, as the case may be.
    mattbrawn
    2 responses to this
  • Strobe lights just aren't good enough anymore.
    BenDorries
  • http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/sagger_2006/Jnco/...
    When will these pants become popular again?
    joshuaheller
    1 response to this
  • Dear Lord.
    Okay, concert-goers.
    Which is worse? Hearing loss or blindness?
    huntre
  • I'm sorry, but this is an incredibly irritating question. Most people dealing with losing their hearing or their sight don't have a choice, or the opportunity to 'pick' one or the other. Both senses are precious. Both would be sorely missed if either were lost, in different and similar ways. Just take care of your eyes and your ears, people.
    LindseyIndigo
  • Welding glasses, that's the answer! Silly kids, everyone knows not to look directly into a laserbeam.
    bansheewail
  • Always having to have fun does come at a cost.
    J_Jammer
  • I smell a class action law suit!
    Bigdog_mike
  • those illterate technichans!!!
    iah
    • iah
    • 2 months ago
  • I was at an outdoor party once (likely wearing some fat pants joshuaheller) and thought that some of those lasers were aliens coming down the hill to take over our planet. I actually freaked out for about 15 seconds. Then someone gave me a hug and a blow pop, and everything was ok...
    I am so glad I got over that phase.
    abbym0308
  • Those poor people!
    Elligirl
  • That's really messed up. You'd think that laser operators would know better. They should have their lasers taken away.
    crababble
  • Those stupid planners should have looked into the risks of using so much laser power. That sucks. They'll probably have a few claims on their hands if they can be tracked down.
    onechance
  • lasers are pretty cool, but people treat them like toys way too often and don't take the correct precautions...
    NatRed
  • You know... this sucks. I really feel sorry for those kids, i really do. Lack of planning on the party thowers side I think.

    That being said, I laughed a just a little./
    Bahlkris
  • woah nelly
    pstuart
  • And that's why we don't take a bunch ex and stare at the pretty lights
    ivxx
  • i hope i t was worth it
    tonyred17
  • I guess they won't need rose colored glasses.
    leahl
  • right when raving was making a comeback! :(

    bummer... and i just got a new neon unitard from american apparel.
    littlesparrow
  • someone flashed me with a little laser pointer once by accident ... bounced the beam off my computer screen and got me right in the eye. it was crazy and i had a spot in my vision for the rest of the day. if a tiny little pointer could do that bouncing off an lcd screen, i can only imagine what a big laser could do in a dark room over the course of several hours.
    superkiy
  • Wow, this is F'd up!
    clemwilson
  • that's a pretty heavy price to pay for liking bad music.
    TaniaK
  • Stop Roliin, And you wont make dumb ass choices like staring into a laser beam...Dumb asses
    negrete_ink
  • Do the drugs have anything to do with the sightlessness of these folks?
    SINDY
  • that's awful..."lets go party"..but come home blinded....
    misticblue7

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