Ophthalmology in space

The spaceflight environment introduces unique and diverse changes to the ophthalmic system. The neuro-ophthalmic phenomenon, spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), has been identified as one of the largest physiologic barriers to future crewed long-duration spaceflight. Although one of the largest barriers, the underlying pathogenesis behind SANS is not well understood. Current research for ophthalmology in space is diverse and includes clinical, animal, cellular, and technology studies to further understand the effects of microgravity and space radiation on the ophthalmic system. In this chapter, we describe the clinical findings of SANS, as well as terrestrial analogs and countermeasure developments. We also discuss current understanding and research on space radiation on the ocular system, as well as animal and cellular studies investigating the effects of microgravity on animal and cellular studies. We lastly discuss future directions and current technology research that aimed at identifying and counteracting the effects of spaceflight on the ophthalmic system.