Attendees of Yuga Labs' ApeFest event in Hong Kong on November 4 have reported experiencing burns, vision impairment, and severe eye pain, which they believe are due to the inappropriate use of lighting. Some attendees shared their experiences on social media, with one individual mentioning that they had to visit the hospital after waking up in excruciating pain, attributing it to ultraviolet rays from the stage lights. These reports have raised concerns about the safety of the lighting setup at the event.
It was noted that many of the people who experienced eye problems were those in close proximity to the light display on the main stage. A spokesperson for Yuga Labs acknowledged the situation and assured that they are taking it seriously. They mentioned that they are actively contacting those affected and conducting a thorough investigation to determine the root cause.
Yuga Labs estimates that the issue has affected fewer than one percent of the approximately 2,250 attendees and staff at the event. Reports of eye-related problems from improper exposure to UV rays during events are not new in Hong Kong. A similar incident occurred in 2017 when attendees at a party hosted by the streetwear brand HypeBeast reported burns and eye damage due to the use of specific bulbs that emitted UV-C radiation.
In both cases, the symptoms described align with a condition called photokeratitis, often referred to as "welder's eye." It is typically caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of ultraviolet radiation, commonly originating from artificial light sources like welding lamps. However, it can also occur from natural sunlight reflecting off bright surfaces, such as snow, and is commonly known as snow blindness. The incidents at ApeFest and other events highlight the importance of ensuring the safety of lighting setups to prevent potential harm to event attendees.
