According to a 404 media release, Several attendees at the ApeFest conference organized by Yuga Labs, the parent company of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), have reported experiencing severe eye pain and vision loss after being exposed to laser and “blacklight-heavy performances.” 

The event, held in Hong Kong from November 3-5, was exclusively for holders of Bored Ape non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Reports of eye injuries have prompted an inquiry by Yuga Labs to determine the root cause of the situation.

Bored Ape Eventgoers Share Concerns Over Intense Eye Problems

Attendees took to social media, including the X platform (formerly Twitter), to voice their concerns. One user, identified as “Crypto June,” shared his experience of waking up in the middle of the night with extreme pain and blurred vision, which she attributed to the stage’s UV lighting. 

Another attendee confirmed similar issues with eye discomfort and skin burns. The intensity of blacklights in certain areas, including restrooms, was also noted by participants.

Despite the eye-related problems, some attendees expressed gratitude for the event’s organization and the opportunity to connect with others. However, they emphasized the need for an official statement from Yuga Labs addressing the health hazards experienced by numerous individuals. 

Bored Ape Yacht Club acknowledged the issue, and stated they were actively contacting affected individuals to investigate potential causes. They estimated that less than 1% of attendees and staff experienced symptoms and encouraged those still affected to seek medical attention. BAYC’s official X account stated:

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 attending and working the event had these symptoms. While nearly everyone has indicated their symptoms have improved, we encourage anybody who feels them to seek medical attention just in case.

Yuga Labs Takes Action

According to a DL news report, at least 15 attendees reported problems with the flashing stage lights during the conference. Yuga Labs has initiated an inquiry to identify the root cause of the eye injuries. 

The company is reportedly committed to addressing the concerns of affected individuals and is working to ensure the safety and well-being of participants at their events.

On the flip side, according to the latest data from CoinGecko, the current minimum price of Bored Ape Yacht Club stands at $53,686. The 24-hour sales volume for BAYC is reported to be 2,171 ETH.

As of today, there are a total of 9,998 NFTs minted from the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection. Among these, 5,545 are owned by sole proprietors. 

The total market capitalization of the BAYC collection is estimated to be $536,752,440. It is important to note that the price of BAYC has experienced a significant decline of 50% in the year-to-date period.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com