Intense Pain and Vision Problems Reported by ApeFest Participants
Participants of Yuga Labs’ ApeFest event have reported experiencing severe eye pain and vision damage, which they attribute to the use of improper lighting during the event held on November 4th.
Alarming Testimonies Following ApeFest
‘Awoken in the middle of the night after ApeFest, my eyes were in so much pain that I had to go to the hospital,’ said one attendee. ‘The doctor told me it was due to UV radiation from the stage lights. I often go to festivals but have never experienced this before,’ they added.
Several ApeFest participants in Hong Kong shared similar symptoms on X (formerly Twitter) after attending the event.
Chain Reactions and a Localized Problem
Reports indicate that those suffering from eye problems were primarily located near the bright display on the main stage. Another guest described identical symptoms, stating, ‘Is anyone else’s eyes burning since last night? Woken up at 3 AM with extreme pain and ended up in the ER.’
Among the hundreds of ApeFest attendees, at least 15 reports of vision damage have been shared on social media, suggesting that concerns were limited to guests in close proximity to the stage lighting.
This is not the first time party-goers in Hong Kong have experienced medical issues after exposure to improper UV lighting. In fact, on October 20th, 2017, several participants of a party hosted by streetwear brand HypeBeast reported painful burns and eye damage.
Investigation into the Lighting Used
It has been revealed by the event’s DJ that the lighting provider used a series of Philips TUV 30W G30 T8 bulbs, which, according to the Philips website, emit 12 watts of UV-C radiation, typically used for surface disinfection.
The reports of vision damage in both cases correspond to a condition known as photokeratitis, also referred to as ‘welder’s flash.’ The condition is caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of UV radiation, typically from artificial sources such as welding lamps, but can also come from sunlight reflecting off shiny surfaces like snow, commonly known as snow blindness.
