Jayney's Blog

Scientists in Canada are in the process of developing a new way of measuring the mechanics of the human eye. The reason for this is to help identify astronauts who are at risk of sustaining ocular damage before they go into space.

Université de Montréal researchers Santiago Costantino and Mark Lesk have collaborated with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency, and are hoping to use their expertise to protect astronauts’ vision from the negative impacts space travel can have.

“We must try to protect astronauts’ vision, because the negative repercussions of zero gravity provide clear cause for concern,” said Costantino, a professor at UdeM’s Department of Ophthalmology and director of the Biophotonics Research Unit at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre.

Astronauts who spend longer than a month in space are at risk of developing space flight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), which affects the optic nerves. The condition can significantly reshape the eyeball and create folds on the retina. After returning to Earth, some astronauts may heal in a few weeks, while others may suffer from the resulting vision problems for years.

“The method we’ve developed to measure and assess ocular health as the potential to identify astronauts at risk of developing SANS symptoms that can negatively impact both their health and their mission’s chances of success,” said Costantino.

Symptoms of SANS get more severe the longer astronauts remain in space, and so this could be a problem for the planned three-year missions to Mars.

Non-invasive technology developed in Quebec

A non-invasive technology was developed by researchers including Costantino and Lesk in 2015, which was used to measure ocular rigidity. This technology was clinically applied on almost 400 glaucoma patients. The method involves measuring how much blood enters the eye with every heartbeat. The rigidity is then calculated by looking at changes in blood volume and pressure inside the eye.

“Since deformed eyeballs are common among astronauts once they’re back on Earth, our working hypothesis is that rigidity will influence how much the eye changes shape,” Lesk said. “In practical terms, a more resilient eye won’t experience as much deformation.”

The researchers plan to measure astronauts’ eyes on three separate occasions over the coming months – first in Houston before takeoff, during the mission at the International Space Station, and finally when they are back on Earth.

The number of study participants is understandably limited, due to how few astronauts are launched into space each year. For this reason, the preliminary results are expected to be published in two years.

https://www.newswise.com/articles/when-space-travel-is-a-blur