Powerful lasers damage eyesight of some Russian ravers
By Darren Murph 
posted July 16th 2008 7:54PM
posted July 16th 2008 7:54PM
[Via Switched, image courtesy of iGouGo]
posted July 16th 2008 7:54PM
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Footage of the event, shown on Russian TV and available on the net, clearly shows that pulsed lasers were used (look for the dotted lines on the wall around 01:19). It also shows that the beams went directly into the audience -- no "refraction off the roof" here.
Pulsed lasers like this are totally unsafe for audience scanning. Pulses can pack up to 100x the power of continuous lasers which should be used instead. Every laser operator should know this. It is Laser Show Safety 101.
Apparently the lasers were originally intended for a sky or overhead show, which can be fine. But when the rain came and the ravers were under the tent, some idiot decided (ordered?) the lasers to go into the audience.
Fortunately, the eye damage appears to be retinal hemorrhages (bruises) instead of retinal burns. This is bad but not as bad as it could be.
Bottom line, audience scanning is allowed in most countries and is even covered by international engineering standards (IEC 60825-3). It is done safely thousands of times each day around the world. But a pulsed laser like the one in the video (probably Q-switched Nd:YAG) should NEVER be aimed at an audience.
Five words: German Disco Laser Light Show!
...ze goggles, zey do nothing!
Haha! I can't believe I had to read through so many comments before someone said that!
But seriously bad organisers, should be shot.
I came looking for a "In Soviet Russia" joke.
The laser operator obviously don't have a medical degree
the laser operators couldnt even read - a few articles have mentioned that they didnt read the label, or couldnt, and subsequently set the laser up inside. what a mess, man.
I always thought everyone was naked at these events... oops, those were the other kind of raves from russia.
Sounds like the pew pew caused QQ.
Tickets: $35
New Cologne : $75
Party Pill: $20
Losing Eyesight during a Rave: Priceless
Priceless... except for the huge bills following those visits to that crazy eye doctor that claimed he could restore your eyesight with laser eye surgery.
You sir are a winner for that comment.
Its sad. they are already deaf. so now they will be blind and deaf. Oh and they listen to techno. So make that blind, deaf and dumb.
f off. technos amazing and not just for dummys.
(looks at emos) thats dumb over there
Yeah, that's great. All these guys are horrified by these people who lose vision in a party. But no one realize that they lose some significant part of hearing each time they go to such a party. Because there probably a lot of dance floors without lasers, but I'm not aware of them without hundreds of watts loudspeakers...
As far as I know, deafness is far more disabling than blindness.
horrible
Wow, they are even further back than Canada, just NOW getting into Raves....pfff that was so 12 yeas ago.
I know, We already are fed up of "High School Musical Orgies" and they still are into techno...
sorry, but i'm form montreal and I started raving n 1994 and it was already getting old for some folks here
Could of been worse. At least it wasnt like Qlimax lights.
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/386/460qlimax1euitingyn4.jpg
Good luck with the whole Russian braille.
Ecstasy will fix everything.
"Ravers of the world UNITE" Beastie Boys
this picture looks like a russian gay party! hahahaha
IN SOVIET RUSSIA, LASER SEES YOU!
Finally!
does anyone else remeber the seven days episode where this happens at a concert?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0167720/
Here is more information about the lasers being used:
http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/Tech/Beam/Beam2.html
Visor dude is having a good laugh right about now
Maybe it was just their retnas going bexerk on all the MDMA?
looks like a sausage fest
In Soviet Russia, you blind laser.
I have been operating Class 4 lasers in public for 20 years Indoors and out and never once seen an episode like this as reported in the media.
Although I do indeed have a laser burn on my right eye this was caused when servicing and a faulty component opened the laser aperture at full power.
The pattern of damage reported simply does not fit known laser damage.
After the initial reports in the media about the incident further investigation reveals some information that may discount the LASER completely.
Moscow ophthalmologists are questioning Russian officials' determination that retina damage in young people at a techno music festival was due to improper use of a laser gun reportedly directed at the audience, and are now saying the real cause could be drugs.
Russian newspaper Kommersant reported Tuesday that the ophthalmologists are deliberating on the most probable causes that led to vision loss in some who attended the Aquamarine Techno Music Festival held in Russia’s Vladimir region July 6.
The paper reported Monday that more than 30 audience members at the festival may have permanently lost much of their vision after a laser used during the concert burned their retinas. One attendee told Kommersant that he “had a spot like when you look at the sun for a long time” after the lasers were used. Others reported damage to their cameras and video recorders.
Russian officials named the laser gun as the possible reason for the damage, which was shined into the audience several times in violation of safety rules.
While 30 people reportedly sought treatment for ocular problems, the newspaper said Tuesday that the number of patients was actually 12, five girls and seven boys, who all had haemorrhages around their retinas.
Because no retina burns were found, eye doctors told the newspaper that the real cause could be drug consumption, although that theory has yet to be proven.
For more information, visit: www.kommersant.com
"The pattern of damage reported simply does not fit known laser damage"
Are you saying that the Ruskies have developed some new kind of super weapon? Bond should be notified at once!
Win. +2 for that comment good sir.
do you only congratulate people on their comments instead of posting anything useful?
-1 for not replying to an actual comment
@teej
For one the comments that I read were funny so I reply and gave the poster points because the comment was funny.
Obviously you haven't seen my other posts or you wouldn't be cock riding me about how I post.
Now go sit in the corner and talk to the crack in the way and think about what you just said, idiot.
Some of you people need to get off your damn high horses with respect to your lack of sympathy for these people. Just because you like Monte Montgomery or Celine Dion doesn't make you any more special. Different strokes for different folks, and some people like electronic music (don't call it Techno - that makes yourself look even more stupid, since Techno is only a small subset of electronic music) just as you like your favorite genre of music.
These people were just going to enjoy their music in their environment and some asshat didn't realize he should not shoot the lasers at reflective objects 20 feet above their heads.
This easily could have happened at any other type of musical event, and I would bet the reaction from some of you people would be completely different. Grow up.
Actually, something very similar nearly happened at the Gregorian Chants festival in my town recently.
Actually, something very similar nearly happaned at a Gregorian Chants festival in my town recently.
P.S. "Ravers" are usually associated with Trance music, not Techno (which this does happen to be, apparently)
wow, way to keep up engadget. gizmodo talked about this 3 days ago:
http://gizmodo.com/5024924/russian-ravers-blinded-by-best-and-last-laser-show-theyll-ever-see
Look at that sausage fest! I don't feel so bad for them now.
Crap... That youtube report from the BBC was pretty frightening. Any laser that is going to damage the pickup in a CCD video camera is something I do NOT want pointed at my face.
Patrick is correct. This just further proves that when you hire a laser company for any event, you need to make sure of their expertise. There are so many single operators out there that think just because they have a laser projector, they can do a show. Wrong on two levels.....they don't usually have the knowledge to not only provide safety for the audience, but also to provide a truly exciting visual experience. When shopping in the USA, ask for the company's Federal Variance number (license)....other countries have similar regulating agencies. Also, if the company is a member of ILDA (International Laser Display Association), you are more assured of a quality performance.....we work under a strict code of professional ethics.
Because of a supermarket price-reading laser exposure for one minute the vitreus humour of both of my eyes detached in some points from my retinas leaving my eyesight with some considerable floaters. Since then i've had to wear sunglasses all the time to reduce the "eclipsing" that floaters project onto my retinas.
This is a good reason to listen to low-tech, acoustic bluegrass music. You don't have to worry about lasers: http://lowtechtimes.com/2008/07/17/hi-tech-lasers-blind-music-lovers/