Jul 21, 2025 04:59 PM
https://www.universetoday.com/articles/w...ht-forever
EXCERPT: The condition is now known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome or SANS for short and it's become one of the most pressing health concerns for long duration space missions. Unlike motion sickness or muscle weakness which resolve quickly back on Earth, the vision changes can be permanent.
The culprit appears to be microgravity itself. On Earth, gravity constantly pulls fluids downward through our bodies. In space, these fluids redistribute, causing facial puffiness and increased pressure inside the skull. This elevated pressure can flatten the back of the eyeball and cause swelling of the optic nerve. These findings have major implications for Mars missions, which could last 2-3 years.
Roberts and his team at NASA are developing several countermeasures, including special contact lenses, medications to reduce fluid pressure, and exercise protocols that might help maintain normal circulation. They're also testing a device called the Visual Impairment Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) chamber that could simulate Earth like pressure conditions for the eyes... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPT: The condition is now known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome or SANS for short and it's become one of the most pressing health concerns for long duration space missions. Unlike motion sickness or muscle weakness which resolve quickly back on Earth, the vision changes can be permanent.
The culprit appears to be microgravity itself. On Earth, gravity constantly pulls fluids downward through our bodies. In space, these fluids redistribute, causing facial puffiness and increased pressure inside the skull. This elevated pressure can flatten the back of the eyeball and cause swelling of the optic nerve. These findings have major implications for Mars missions, which could last 2-3 years.
Roberts and his team at NASA are developing several countermeasures, including special contact lenses, medications to reduce fluid pressure, and exercise protocols that might help maintain normal circulation. They're also testing a device called the Visual Impairment Intracranial Pressure (VIIP) chamber that could simulate Earth like pressure conditions for the eyes... (MORE - missing details)