SANS (spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome) tagged posts

Astronauts’ Eyes Weaken during Long Space Missions, Raising Concerns for Mars Travel

Spaceflight-associated neuroocular syndrome, which makes the eyes weaker, affects at least 70 percent of crew members on the International Space Station.

The low levels of gravity (microgravity) in space cause significant changes in astronauts’ eyes and vision after six to 12 months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), according to a study published in the IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology.

Université de Montréal ophthalmologist Santiago Costantino found that at least 70% of astronauts on the ISS have been affected by spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, or SANS.

In the biophotonics research unit he runs at the UdeM-affiliated Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Costantino assembled a group of researchers to identify the biomechanical changes responsible for this disorder.

They analyzed data collected by the Canadian team at NASA on 13 astronauts who spent between 157 and 186 days on the I...

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