In a strange twist to fate, celebrations at a Russian dance music festival near Moscow last week have rendered dozens of young revelers blind due to a laser show. Doctors fear the damage may be irreparable and that their sight may not be restored, the Kommersant daily reported on Monday.
"More than 30 people between the ages of 16 and 30 have ended up in hospitals in the capital with the same diagnosis -- damaged retinas -- since July 7," the report said, quoting doctors.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a refractive error of the eye, which causes blurred or distorted vision. Astigmatism is one of the most common vision problems.
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One doctor told Kommersant: "All of them have burnt retinas, you can see scars on them. The loss of eyesight in some cases is up to 80 percent and it's unlikely it can ever be restored."
Festivalgoers being treated in hospital said they were blinded when lasers intended to light up the night sky were trained on dancers.
"I immediately saw a black spot like the kind you get when you look at the sun," said one of the patients.
The Aquamarine festival took place near the town of Vladimir, some 170 kilometers (106 miles) east of Moscow.
Source: AFP
TAN/L
"I immediately saw a black spot like the kind you get when you look at the sun," said one of the patients.
The Aquamarine festival took place near the town of Vladimir, some 170 kilometers (106 miles) east of Moscow.
Source: AFP
TAN/L
Anatomy of the Eye - Animation
Interactive section of Medindia gives details regarding anatomy of the Eye
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 Short Sightedness - AnimationShort Sightedness (Myopia) is a common vision problem, in which individuals cannot focus on distant objects and the images look blurred. This problem can be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery. | Advertisement
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Patients With Retinal Degeneration may Be Better Off With Retinal Transplants
Retina cell transplantation has shown promising outcomes in patients with retinal degeneration, say researchers.
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