Laser Blindness at Rave

[n0Mad]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25675477/?GT1=43001

Ravers lose vision at laser light show

Dozens of partygoers in Russia suffered eye damage, officials said

Reuters

updated 11:29 a.m. ET, Mon., July. 14, 2008

MOSCOW - Dozens of partygoers at an outdoor rave near Moscow last week have lost partial vision after a laser light show burned their retinas, Russian health officials said on Monday.

Moscow city health department officials confirmed 12 cases of laser-blindness at the Central Ophthalmological Clinic, and daily newspaper Kommersant said another 17 were registered at City Hospital 32 in the center of the capital.

Attendees at the July 5 Aquamarine Open Air Festival in Kirzhach, 50 miles northeast of Moscow, began seeking medical help days after the show, complaining of eye and vision problems, health officials told Reuters.

"They all have retinal burns, scarring is visible on them. Loss of vision in individual cases is as high as 80 percent, and regaining it is already impossible," Kommersant quoted a treating ophthalmologist as saying.

Attendees said heavy rains forced organizers to erect massive tents for the all-night dance party, and lasers that normally illuminate upwards into the sky were instead partially refracted into the ravers' eyes.

"I immediately had a spot like when you stare into the sun," rave-attendee 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.

Cosmic Connection, promoters of the Aquamarine rave, were unreachable and did not list contact numbers on their Web site.

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

The owner of a Moscow laser rental company told Reuters 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. Somebody set up an extremely powerful laser for such a small space," said Valentin Vasiliev, who said his company did not provide the Aquamarine lasers.

Copyright 2008 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25675477/?GT1=43001

[Rev.Reverence]

How horrid...

^{..don't look into the light...}

[n0Mad]

How horrid...

I know, totally horrid! Ugh, raves!

And that laser blindness thing is pretty horrid too.

[Rev.Reverence]

I know, totally horrid! Ugh, raves!

And that laser blindness thing is pretty horrid too.

that's why I said it that way...

I like funnies in my news...so the second or third poster in a thread should (if at all possible) say something funny...

NOW...we're off toppic...if there is one.....

[jynxxxedangel]

This is why you should also be careful of those laser pointers while playing with your kittehs.

You can damage their eyes with them, as well. A lot of people aren't aware of that fact.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

Not surprising; back in the '70s, bands like Blue Oyster Cult and Electric Light Orchestra used to fire their lasers just above the crowds' outstreched hands. There are plenty of stories of people lighting cigarettes in the beams.

[brandywine0880]

Not surprising; back in the '70s, bands like Blue Oyster Cult and Electric Light Orchestra used to fire their lasers just above the crowds' outstreched hands. There are plenty of stories of people lighting cigarettes in the beams.

ahahhaha that's awesome!

[TitsMcGee]

This is why you should also be careful of those laser pointers while playing with your kittehs.

You can damage their eyes with them, as well. A lot of people aren't aware of that fact.

But it's so fun making them climb the walls lol

Not surprising; back in the '70s, bands like Blue Oyster Cult and Electric Light Orchestra used to fire their lasers just above the crowds' outstreched hands. There are plenty of stories of people lighting cigarettes in the beams.

Yikes

[SaGa]

hasnt anybody on e told you not to stare in the laser for more then a minute. 30 seconds will trip you out enough, trust me

[Reaper]

Those dumbasses. haha

[Homicidalheathen]

They still sell laser light toys for cats at petco...

I dunno why

And here I thought raves were pretty safe...except for the over doses and rapes and stuff you know...

[AstralCrux]

I always figured the laser scanners at stores were deteriorating my eyesight. Dang curiosity as a child.

[Head Wreck]

heh. i just unbolted a green laser of one of my guns.

it was silly powerfull