Spaceflight associated dry eye syndrome (SADES): Outflow biophysics and infection risk

Ryung Lee; Joshua Ong; Ethan Waisberg; Stacey L. Fanning; Andrew G. Lee

doi:10.1016/j.jsse.2025.04.004

Spaceflight associated dry eye syndrome (SADES): Outflow biophysics and infection risk

Ryung Lee, Joshua Ong, Ethan Waisberg, Stacey L. Fanning, Andrew G. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is a notably higher prevalence of dry eye syndrome and dry eye-related symptoms among astronauts during and after spaceflight aboard the International Space Station and space shuttle missions. This unique phenomenon is termed Spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome (SADES). With plans for returning to the moon and manned missions to Mars, all potential threats to astronauts well-being and health, such as SADES, should be accounted for. Herein, we describe SADES, provide a rationale for its occurrence, and connect it to the increased risk of microbial keratitis.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	377-380
Number of pages	4
Journal	Journal of Space Safety Engineering
Volume	12
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsse.2025.04.004
State	Published - Jun 2025

Keywords

Astronaut vision
Health
Long duration spaceflight
Microgravity
Space medicine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Aerospace Engineering
Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

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10.1016/j.jsse.2025.04.004

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title = "Spaceflight associated dry eye syndrome (SADES): Outflow biophysics and infection risk",

abstract = "There is a notably higher prevalence of dry eye syndrome and dry eye-related symptoms among astronauts during and after spaceflight aboard the International Space Station and space shuttle missions. This unique phenomenon is termed Spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome (SADES). With plans for returning to the moon and manned missions to Mars, all potential threats to astronauts well-being and health, such as SADES, should be accounted for. Herein, we describe SADES, provide a rationale for its occurrence, and connect it to the increased risk of microbial keratitis.",

keywords = "Astronaut vision, Health, Long duration spaceflight, Microgravity, Space medicine",

author = "Ryung Lee and Joshua Ong and Ethan Waisberg and Fanning, \{Stacey L.\} and Lee, \{Andrew G.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/j.jsse.2025.04.004",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Journal of Space Safety Engineering",

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T1 - Spaceflight associated dry eye syndrome (SADES)

T2 - Outflow biophysics and infection risk

AU - Lee, Ryung

AU - Ong, Joshua

AU - Waisberg, Ethan

AU - Fanning, Stacey L.

AU - Lee, Andrew G.

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - There is a notably higher prevalence of dry eye syndrome and dry eye-related symptoms among astronauts during and after spaceflight aboard the International Space Station and space shuttle missions. This unique phenomenon is termed Spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome (SADES). With plans for returning to the moon and manned missions to Mars, all potential threats to astronauts well-being and health, such as SADES, should be accounted for. Herein, we describe SADES, provide a rationale for its occurrence, and connect it to the increased risk of microbial keratitis.

AB - There is a notably higher prevalence of dry eye syndrome and dry eye-related symptoms among astronauts during and after spaceflight aboard the International Space Station and space shuttle missions. This unique phenomenon is termed Spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome (SADES). With plans for returning to the moon and manned missions to Mars, all potential threats to astronauts well-being and health, such as SADES, should be accounted for. Herein, we describe SADES, provide a rationale for its occurrence, and connect it to the increased risk of microbial keratitis.

KW - Astronaut vision

KW - Health

KW - Long duration spaceflight

KW - Microgravity

KW - Space medicine

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002254109

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M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105002254109

SN - 2468-8975

VL - 12

SP - 377

EP - 380

JO - Journal of Space Safety Engineering

JF - Journal of Space Safety Engineering

IS - 2

ER -

Spaceflight associated dry eye syndrome (SADES): Outflow biophysics and infection risk

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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