The Bored Ape NFT event has caused trouble with attendees as it was believed that they were unprotected from being exposed to UV lights during the Ape Fest 2023.
Some of the event goers have expressed that they experienced eye pain, vision problems, and sunburnt skin last November 5 after attending the ApeFest, a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection event in Hong Kong that was held from November 3 to 5.
The attendees took to social media to share their experience after seeking medical attention with one person stating that they had been diagnosed with Photokeratitis. This is most commonly known as “welder’s eye” and is a condition caused by unprotected exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Anyone else’s eyes burning from last night? Woke up at 3am with extreme pain and ended up in the ER.
I saw a couple reports but just trying to figure out if there was a common thread.
— FΞLD | mrbayc.eth (@Feld4014) November 5, 2023
[For information purposes only]
So far, 30 hours since woke up with severe eye burn, I’ve visited emergency hospital and eye clinic and spent there a total of 6 hours.
Got diagnosed with “photokeratitis over both eyes, accident related” with prescribed steroid eye drops and eye… https://t.co/qZadVqsQFg pic.twitter.com/5EULptCR4H
— Adrian Zduńczyk, CMT (@crypto_birb) November 6, 2023
I got it as well. Went to bed at 1:30, woke up at 5 eyes burning. I wasn’t that close to stage, but hearing this bubble rumor. Also hearing it can just be particles in the air in HK. I went to the hospital this morning and got basically zero help…
— 0xTangle.eth 🦇🔊 (@0xTangle) November 5, 2023
Another user stated that the issue was a result of UV from the stage lights, jumping into a conclusion that the injuries were caused by improper lighting used during the event.
I woke up at 04:00 and couldn’t see anymore. Had so much pain and my whole skin is burned. Needed to go to the hospital.
The doctor told me the uv of the lightning of the stage did it. It has the same effect as sunlight.
Still can not see normally..
— Crypto June 💎🎯 (@CryptoJune777) November 5, 2023
Yuga Labs, the blockchain company behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT project, stated that they were aware of the situation and are taking these reports seriously. “We are actively racing out and in touch with those affected to better understand the root cause, “ as said by Yuga Labs spokesperson Emily Kitts. “Based on our estimates, the 15 people we’ve been in direct communication with so far represent less than one percent of the approximately 2,250 event attendees and staff at our Saturday night event.”
The company has released an updated statement regarding this scenario last November 6 via X (formerly Twitter).
Apes, we are aware of the eye-related issues that affected some of the attendees of ApeFest and have been proactively reaching out to individuals since yesterday to try and find the potential root causes. Based on our estimates, we believe that much less than 1% of those…
— Bored Ape Yacht Club (@BoredApeYC) November 6, 2023
Their statement read, “Apes, we are aware of the eye-related issues that affected some of the attendees of ApeFest and have been proactively reaching out to individuals since yesterday to try and find the potential root cause. Based on our estimates, we believe that much less than 1% of those attending and working the event had these symptoms.”
They ended their statement encouraging everyone who attended feeling these symptoms to seek medical attention and wrote, “While nearly everyone has indicated their symptoms have improved, we encourage anybody who feels them to seek medical attention just in case.”
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