--- title: "People Say Their Eyes Are Burning After Attending a Bored Ape Event" description: "After attending a Bored Ape-themed party in Hong Kong, some of the partygoers' eyes started mysteriously burning." date: "2023-11-06" modified: "2023-11-06" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/eyes-burning-attending-bored-ape-event" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "bored ape yacht club" - "bored apes" - "nfts" - "the digest" --- # People Say Their Eyes Are Burning After Attending a Bored Ape Event ![After attending a Bored Ape-themed party in Hong Kong, some of the partygoers' eyes started mysteriously burning.]() *\Image: Adrian Zdunczyk via X\* ## The Goggles The creator of the once-popular Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection, Yuga Labs, put on a party in Hong Kong. The fact that a Bored Ape-themed party took place at all in 2023 is already perhaps a little surprising, judging by the NFT industry's [abysmal state](). But then something even stranger started happening to attendees: their eyes started burning after the event. As [*Bloomberg* reports](), over a dozen visitors complained about peculiar eye problems. While you wouldn't be amiss for blaming the look of the Bored Apes themselves — the lazy and garish designs make our own eyes hurt, too — the problem was seemingly caused by the event's excessive ultraviolet lighting. It's a bizarre twist that we didn't see coming. The NFT market [is in shambles]() right now, and Bored Apes in particular have [become almost worthless](), despite being shilled by celebrities and selling for millions of dollars just two years ago. In short, lawsuits over damaged eyes are probably the very least of Yuga Labs' concerns. ## They Do Nothing A spokesperson for Yuga Labs told *Bloomberg* that around 15 people were in touch with them about the condition of their eyes, which allegedly represented less than one percent of the total crowd. Judging by [one video]() showing a largely empty dancefloor, that's a pretty generous headcount. Crypto buff Adrian Zdunczyk, who attended the event, was later [diagnosed with photokeratitis]() at the hospital, a condition caused by unprotected exposure to ultraviolet radiation that can result in symptoms ranging from mild irritation to severe pain. It's something that can also happen when you stare at the Sun, especially during a solar eclipse. A form of photokeratitis known as "snow blindness" can also be triggered by the Sun being reflected by snow. "Incredible event and met plenty of amazing people," he [tweeted](). "Still, as dozens of others, I’ve almost lost sight this night." Fortunately for Zdunczyk, his "vision was tested as close to perfect with no serious cornea damage, luckily." "Please go get your eyes checked immediately," Zdunczyk added. Jokes aside, we're hoping everybody who attended is safe long term. **More on Bored Apes:** *[Remember Bored Apes? They're Almost Worthless Now]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()