Moscow city health department officials say that 12 cases of laser blindness were recorded at the Central Ophthalmological Clinic in the city. The daily newspaper Kommersant reports that another 17 victims have registered at another hospital in the centre of the capital

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

Forced indoors

Partygoers say heavy rains forced organisers to erect massive tents for the all-night dance party. The damage seems to have been caused when laser beams that were intended for outdoor use to illuminate the sky, were somehow turned or reflected onto the crowd.

The owner of a Moscow laser rental company, Valentin Vasiliev, says 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,” he says, adding that his company did not provide the lasers at the Aquamarine event.

Source: Party laser ‘blinds’ Russian ravers