LCD screen flashes white light

Hello, last week I brought my camera to a hockey game and it worked just fine. The camera was kept in my purse the whole evening and the next morning when I would try to turn it on, the LCD screen would just flash a bright white light. The only way I am able to turn the camera off is to remove the batteries and I don't know what could have happened to the camera. Usually when I turn the power on the lens would open up and it doesn't do this anymore. Any ideas what could be wrong with the camera? I've tried changing memory cards and batteries and nothing is working. This camera is less than a year old so I'd like to not have to replace it so please let me know if you can help. Miranda