At least a dozen Russian ravers suffered partial loss of vision after their eyes were burned during a laser light show outside Moscow.
Moscow health department officials confirmed 12 cases of laser-blindness, and the daily Kommersant newspaper reported 17 others were registered at a second city hospital.
"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," an ophthalmologist told Kommersant.
The all-night Aquamarine Open Air Festival, held July 5 about 50 miles northeast of Moscow, was forced into tents because of rain. Powerful lasers designed to illuminate the sky were instead refracted into ravers' eyes. Many complained of eye and vision problems right after the show. Partyers also claimed the lasers damaged their cameras and video recorders. Here's a photo from the show.
The owner of a Moscow laser rental company told Reuters the accidental blindings were due to "illiteracy on the part of technicians."
Moscow health department officials confirmed 12 cases of laser-blindness, and the daily Kommersant newspaper reported 17 others were registered at a second city hospital.
"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," an ophthalmologist told Kommersant.
The all-night Aquamarine Open Air Festival, held July 5 about 50 miles northeast of Moscow, was forced into tents because of rain. Powerful lasers designed to illuminate the sky were instead refracted into ravers' eyes. Many complained of eye and vision problems right after the show. Partyers also claimed the lasers damaged their cameras and video recorders. Here's a photo from the show.
The owner of a Moscow laser rental company told Reuters the accidental blindings were due to "illiteracy on the part of technicians."
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