
Bored Ape Yacht Membership (BAYC) not too long ago headlined Web3 information following reviews of eye-related incidents in the course of the annual ApeFest event. Attendees of the favored NFT-centric gathering have reported experiencing extreme eye discomfort following the occasion.
Bored Ape Yacht Membership and ApeFest Background
Recognized for its unique group of digital artwork collectors, the Bored Ape Yacht Membership is a extremely sought-after group throughout the NFT area. This members-only membership invitations these invested of their distinctive assortment of 10,000 computer-generated cartoon ape NFTs. A necessary occasion on the group’s calendar is the annual ApeFest pageant, held for these distinctive NFT traders, known as “Bored Apes.”
Fairly actually, I nearly went blind that night time. Worst ache within the eyes I’ve ever felt. Waterfall of tears that felt like acid that may’t be washed away.
I’m already seeing headlines hitting with some incorrect info. To resolve rising misinformation, I’m completely happy to speak and my… https://t.co/2Eoynydv4v pic.twitter.com/T2kpVnxLIN
— Adrian Zduńczyk, CMT (@crypto_birb) November 7, 2023
Reported Eye Points Amongst Attendees
Nonetheless, the latest ApeFest held in Hong Kong final weekend didn’t go as easily as hoped. Following the occasion, over a dozen attendees took to social media, reporting alarming signs, together with eyeburn, extreme ache, and imaginative and prescient impairment. One of many attendees, Adrian Zduńczyk, significantly drew consideration as he ended up looking for pressing medical consideration for his symptom, described as “extreme eye burn.”
On visiting the hospital, Zduńczyk was recognized with photokeratitis, often known as snow blindness. This situation outcomes from the cornea and conjunctiva’s unprotected publicity to ultraviolet radiation, strongly suggesting the UV lighting employed on the ApeFest because the doubtless trigger. Although Zduńczyk is now recovering with prescribed steroid eye drops and eye lubricants, his ordeal has undoubtedly delivered to mild a major oversight within the occasion planning.

The Bored Ape Yacht Membership’s Response
Within the aftermath, Bored Ape Yacht Membership took to Platform X, acknowledging the incidents and their potential implications. The membership’s assertion learn, “Apes, we’re conscious of the eye-related points that affected among the attendees of ApeFest and have been proactively reaching out to people since yesterday to attempt to discover potential root causes.”
Whereas the corporate estimates that fewer than 1% of these attending the occasion skilled signs, they nonetheless inspired attendees to hunt medical consideration in the event that they famous comparable signs. With roughly 2,250 attendees on the occasion, this might nonetheless imply a number of affected people.





