Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have been tracking the effects of zero gravity on the eye for the first time as part of NASA’s Ocular Health Study.
Tests, using optical coherence tomography (OCT), were intended to understand the changes that occur as a result of space travel.
The astronauts underwent thorough baseline eye examinations before departing on the mission, using Heidelberg Engineering Spectralis technology, and since October have been monitored at fortnightly intervals. Results were being fed back to Mission Control in Houston, Texas.
The eye examinations were to continue when the astronauts returned, to further study ocular changes after space flight and the risks for astronauts on long duration missions with changes to inter-cranial pressures due to fluid shift in zero gravity.
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