Da International Ophthalmology a Space Ophthalmology: le minacce alla visione sulla strada per Marte e per la colonizzazione della Luna

Carlo Aleci

International Ophthalmology, 2019 Nov 13. doi: 10.1007/s10792-019-01212-7

Since 1961, the year of the first manned mission outside the Earth, history has shown that the human being may venture in space. Yet, its survival has to face environmental conditions, namely radiations and microgravity, that pose serious health risks. Microgravity generates physiological deconditioning at a multiorgan level (especially the cardiocirculatoty and musculoskeletal system), and the long-term effects of radiations are well known. The eye is the major candidate to suffer from the adverse space conditions, so much so that the so-called Spaceflight Related Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) is the major concern of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). SANS, that affects astronauts engaged in long-duration spaceflights, is characterized by optic nerve head swelling, flattening of the posterior region of the scleral shell, choroidal folds, retinal cotton wool spots, and hyperopic shift. Even if it seems related to an increased volume of the cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and the optic nerve sheaths, its etiopathogenesis is still unclear. In addition to SANS, cataract is the main consequence of the effect of galactic cosmic rays on the eye and is the main concern in anticipation of long space missions and Moon and Mars colonization. In this paper, an introduction of the issue and possible remediations are considered.

Keywords

SANS; Microgravity; Radiations; Astronauts;  Eye;  Papilledema; Cataract

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31722052