Doctors say club lasers are damaging people’s eyes in India
Several people were injured following this year's Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations
Vision damage has been sustained by young people as a result of lasers used for events like festivals, nightclubs and weddings, according to doctors in India.
Indian Express reports that Dr Anil Dudhabhate, an ophthalmologist and retina specialist from Pune, spoke at a media conference on 3rd October about exposure to high power lasers and the risk of retinal haemorrhage. The condition can lead to permanent sight loss.
"Anyone who focuses on a laser of 5MW for even ten seconds can suffer from retinal haemorrhage," said Dudhabhate, before using the example of a 23-year-old who lost 70% of his vision this way, which could not be restored through surgery.
Following September's celebrations for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, five revellers in the city of Nashik were treated for retinal damage having stood at a distance between 50 and 200metres from a laser show. Reports also suggest this was not an isolated incident, with more than 60 people injured in the same way at the same event last year.
One of those effected has been diagnosed with "severe vision loss" after suffering bleeding and burns. "The young man had been exposed to laser beams, especially the green ones. These lasers damaged his retinas," said Dr Sachin Kasliwal of the Nashik Ophthalmologists’ Association.
Several studies have been conducted on the dangers posed by shining laser pens and pointers directly into people's eyes, which are significantly less powerful than lasers used in venues. However, vast differences exist between their potential to cause damage when compared to bigger laser shows. In many countries, including the UK and US, health and safety guidelines restrict the use of pulse lighting at a high enough wavelength to cause harm.
