Russian Laser Show Leaves 61 Partially Blind

MOSCOW - At least 61 cases of permanent vision loss have been confirmed after lasers for an open-air event were used indoors instead. The organizers for the Aquamarine Open Air Festival moved the festivities under tents to shelter attendees from a driving rainstorm, and powerful lasers designed for outdoor use were used under the tent.

Instead of streaming out into the open sky, the rays from the lasers bounced off the tent's interior, with a level of visual intensity that was enough to cause permanent vision loss. Some victims lost up to 80 percent of their vision, with visible retinal scarring.

The all-night dance party took place in Kirzhach, outside Moscow. Cosmic Connection, the group that organized the event, has not commented on the incident.

Source: Projection Lights and Staging News