19-year-old suffers confirmed eye damage after laser exposure at Oslo graduation party

A 19-year-old woman has been diagnosed with potential permanent eye damage after being exposed to high-powered lasers at a russ graduation celebration in Oslo’s Tryvann area, Dagbladet reports.

Marianne Hansen told the newspaper she noticed blurred vision and a red spot in her field of sight the morning after attending the event on May 26. “I’m upset. I’m stressed about what I’ll find out later,” she said. After self-testing by blinking each eye separately, she sought emergency medical care.

Oslo University Hospital (OUS) confirmed Hansen’s injury and warned that even millisecond exposure to certain lasers can cause irreversible retinal damage. “Laser beams can seriously harm the retina, and protective eyewear like sunglasses offers no defense,” said Ingar Stene-Johansen, senior consultant in ophthalmology at OUS. The hospital has urged all russ celebrants to disable laser equipment, citing “a significant safety risk” when beams are directed at crowds.

Oslo police are investigating the incident, which follows a May 17 case in Arendal where a male graduate was blinded in one eye by a laser at a similar event. That case remains under police review.

Hansen’s russ group, “Partyrockk2026,” has publicly called for other celebrants to remove lasers from their vehicles. “We kindly ask everyone with lasers to remove them so no one else gets hurt,” the group posted on social media. Hansen emphasized she wanted to share her story to prevent further injuries: “I don’t want others to go through this. The thought of lifelong vision problems is horrifying.”

Oslo’s education commissioner, Julie Remen Midtgarden, condemned the use of lasers at graduation events. “No memory is worth permanent damage. These devices have no place in celebrations where young people gather,” she said, adding that equipment suppliers and event organizers share responsibility for safety. “React when something is dangerous—even if it looks impressive.”