Norwegian student loses vision after laser pointer incident at graduation party

A Norwegian high school graduate has permanently lost central vision in one eye after being struck by a high-powered laser at a russ celebration on the night of May 17, doctors at Sørlandet Hospital warn, calling the trend “dangerous.”

Espen Ringvold, senior consultant and head of the hospital’s ophthalmology department in Arendal, confirmed the injury to newspaper Dagbladet. The student was standing near a gathering of russ buses—decorated vehicles used in Norway’s month-long graduation festivities—when a laser beam swept across his eye, causing immediate blindness in that eye.

“He lost his sharp vision instantly, though peripheral vision remains,” Ringvold stated. “In practice, this means he is blind in that eye.” The laser’s power exceeded safe limits, capable of causing severe burns. Authorities have not yet identified the laser’s owner or its current location, though NRK reports it did not belong to the victim.

Ringvold warned of broader risks, noting that unregulated, high-strength lasers—often purchased from online platforms like Temu—pose serious dangers. “We’re concerned we’ll see more cases of blindness,” he said. “These devices are far stronger than people realize, and their power levels are unpredictable.”

The student remains hospitalized at Sørlandet Hospital’s ophthalmology ward. Norwegian russ celebrations, marking the end of upper-secondary school, traditionally involve parties, decorated buses, and pranks, though laser use is not a standard part of the festivities.