Following a grand and exclusive gathering, some owners of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFTs have reported serious discomfort, including eye pain, skin burns, and potential vision impairment, which they attribute to the intense UV lights used at the event. In some cases, the pain was so severe that it necessitated hospital treatment.
From November 3 to November 5, BAYC NFT owners convened in Hong Kong for ApeFest, a major party and event that reportedly drew more than 2,000 attendees who partied as if the NFT market hadn't drastically declined over the past year. Participation in this exclusive event was limited to BAYC NFT holders. Event photos reveal a substantial stage where a concert entertained the guests. However, many attendees are now grappling with agonizing eye discomfort potentially linked to the UV lights employed during the concert.
Images from the event suggest the presence of potent non-RGB LED light bars on the stage, which could be powerful UV lights. It's worth noting that in 2017, a party in Hong Kong caused temporary blindness among attendees due to UV lights designed for medical disinfection. Currently, it's not confirmed that UV lights are the cause of the injuries stemming from ApeFest.
Nevertheless, at least one partygoer was reportedly diagnosed with photokeratitis, often referred to as "Welder's Eye," and was prescribed steroid eye drops and lubricants for treatment. Numerous individuals who experienced eye pain after the event prompted one Bored Ape owner to create a thread with advice on managing Welder's Eye discomfort.
Yuga Labs, the entity behind the Bored Apes Yacht Club NFT project, expressed awareness of the situation and its serious consideration of the matter when contacted by Kotaku. The company is in direct contact with affected attendees and is conducting an investigation to ascertain the genuine cause of the multiple eye pain and skin burn reports. They have also shared information about the injuries on the official BAYC Twitter account.
According to Yuga Labs, their direct communication with approximately 15 individuals who have reported issues represents less than one percent of the roughly 2,250 event attendees and staff at the Saturday night event.
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