Study into astronaut eye problems

“We know that, if astronauts are in space for extended amounts of time, they have a higher propensity for developing pathologies similar to increased intracranial pressure,” Dr Brian Samuels, told open-access medical information provider News Medical.“We are trying to incorporate all of the existing clinical and research data into functional computational models of the eye itself, the central nervous syst and the cardiovascular syst to determine how they are interacting.”{{quote-A:R-W:450-I:2-Q: If we are able to identify risk factors that might predispose someone to these types of issues in space, the computational models could become a screening tool for future astronauts, -WHO:Dr Brian Samuels, Board Certified in Medical Oncology}}The team will focus on computational modeling as a way of hopefully determining why astronauts have these issues and identify if there could be ways to intervene or prevent th in the future.Many astronauts have complained about hyperopic shifts in vision, some as soon as they return from space, while others noticed gradual shifts over time. The astronauts develop folds in the retina, swelling of the optic disk and distention of the optic nerve sheath behind the eye.Vision issues amongst astronauts started to increase with the advent of the International Space Station (ISS), where they could stay in space for months at a time. One theory suggests that long exposure to microgravity in space may play a role in vision issues, but this has yet to be proven.“Given that one of NASA’s primary goals is to send someone to Mars, this will be the longest amount of time humans have spent in space thus far,” Samuels said.“If we are able to identify risk factors that might predispose someone to these types of issues in space, the computational models could become a screening tool for future astronauts,” Samuels added.Samuels also pointed out that that aim of getting to the cause of these issues could help in the development of devices or tools that could prevent vision probls from happening on future space missions.