Jul 14 2008Russian Ravers Go Blind From Laser Show
As many as 29 people may have partial vision loss as the result of a laser light show at an outdoor rave near Moscow last week. Several have experienced vision loss as high as 80 percent.
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.
Now don't get me wrong, a person losing their vision is freaking awful, and I hope all those affected by this show can get some kind of help. But the point I'd like to make is this: a laser light show where the possibility of going blind doesn't exist is a crappy laser light show. You might as well hire a kid swinging a flashlight on a string. Seriously though folks, I wish these ravers the best and would like to remind you, the reader, to be careful with your eyes. Like testicles*, you only get two.
*Or ovaries.
Ravers lose sight at Russian laser show [reuters]
Thanks Mark and Romeo, have either one of you ever bitten through a glow-stick? I have, it tasted awful.
Reader Comments
1. Richthegringo - July 14, 2008 11:26 AM
PEW PEW FIRST!!!!!!
2. http://webescape.wordpress.com/ - July 14, 2008 11:27 AM
It never happened to me and therefore is very funny.
3. Richthegringo - July 14, 2008 11:30 AM
Sucks to be a russian raver...if only they listened to decent music they wouldn't deserve to have their eyes burnt out by lasers!!
4. Sophie - July 14, 2008 11:38 AM
Geoff made PEW PEW PEW cool
5. Billabong021 - July 14, 2008 12:02 PM
#3 - Well it kinda sucks to be russian in general :P
6. grihm - July 14, 2008 12:02 PM
PEW PEW does not discriminate.
7. nick - July 14, 2008 12:10 PM
That sounds f***ing awesome! How hard they must've been raving to go f***ing blind!! Damn, I'm jealous. Stupid seeing things.
8. al - July 14, 2008 12:42 PM
Going blind from a lazer is pretty horrible but I think these people might be in luck. When a high powered lazer hits the eye it can literally explode the retina causing blindness. However, the retina can grow back....... it just takes about two years. So there's a good chance they won't be blind for the rest of their lives.
9. Ab - July 14, 2008 12:59 PM
Russian Blind Girls are cute and sexy.
10. guate6 - July 14, 2008 1:01 PM
#8: close. The retina can repair itself if the damage is light. It's very fragile (which is why boxers can go blind...retinal detachment). The time for healing also depends on the layer(s) of retina affected. Otherwise the retina doesn't repair itself (enter macular degeneration, which is irreversible).
I didn't think the same picture would be used more than once, but I guess it's alright since it has "pew pew" in it. Raving to house, electronica, trance, etc. is awesome, and the music is awesome. It sucks that they went blind, but not all laser shows are blinding. Perhaps the setup crew is going to have to cough up the money for the medical expenses...or since it's Russia, maybe they get killed :\
11. Jumpin_J - July 14, 2008 2:28 PM
Duck, MF! Pew! p-Pew Pew!!!
12. wanks - July 14, 2008 4:28 PM
@6 hahaah just what i was thinking
13. Meaty Urologist - July 14, 2008 6:45 PM
My grandfather was Russian and he invented the rave. He'd be rolling in his grave if he knew they used pew pews now. Damn kids. There was nothing wrong with flashlights on strings. At least nobody went blind.
From lasers, I mean.
14. ImKharn - July 14, 2008 11:46 PM
LOL rolling in his grave. How did you not catch that when you typed it?
15. Cyberwulf - July 17, 2008 4:17 AM
hm. apparently some of them had visible scars as well, the news didnt specify if the scars were on their eyes or skin, but sweet
16. yomoma - July 21, 2008 11:37 AM
Damage from multipel watt lasers is in most cases permanent and you can only hope for some compensation by the brain for the lost vision.
Actually good club lasers are powerfull enough to make you blind easily but they don't because they only illuminate a certain area for such a short amount of time that it can do no harm and several safety mechanisms are build in to make sure they don't make anyone blind, period.
17. Justin - August 23, 2009 5:46 PM
"a laser light show where the possibility of going blind doesn't exist is a crappy laser light show"
...you are an idiot.
But then an internet where the possibility of people making mornoic comments about something they clearly know nothing about doesn't exist would be a pretty crappy internet.