Space Travel and Our Eyes
Many of us dream of going into space when we are young, before reaching adulthood when the dawning realisation sets in that space travel is a once in a lifetime opportunity assigned only to the lucky few astronauts, at least until space travel becomes commercially viable.
It may be interesting to learn though, that those who’ve taken part in the moon landings as far back as Buzz Aldrin’s first steps on the cratered surface during the first manned lunar landing on July 20, 1969, may have experienced certain negative changes in their eyesight in relation to the difference in atmospheric pressure which we see down here on earth.
Brain and Eye Problems Discovered In Astronauts
Recent research highlight in the journal Radiology, has alluded to the possibility that anyone in the past spending more than a month in space’s atmosphere may be greatly at risk of developing abnormalities similar to the effects of intracranial hypertension in non-space travellers, resulting in a build of pressure within the skull which could also interfere with normal eye function.
Larry Kramer, professor of diagnostic and interventional imaging at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, USA, headed up the research which studied in detail the MRI scans of 27 astronauts who has either taken part in manned space shuttle missions, or were located on board the International Space Station which orbits the earth’s atmosphere, which appears much like such hovering artificial structures seen in films such as ‘Star Wars’.
The findings of the research discovered many complications in the scans which showed symptoms of excess cerebral-spinal fluid around the optic nerve is as many as a third of astronauts looked at, while a flattening appearance at the back of the eyeball and a bulging optic nerve were discovered in six and four of the astronauts MRI’s respectively.
What Do These Findings Mean For The Future Of Space Travel?
The Space Shuttle Program conducted by NASA which started in 1981, ended last year in a move which would see less frequent financial input into future space exploration and missions to the moon, although talks of missions to Mars are still talked of, which would worrying take up to a year to complete, possibly enhancing the chance of the longer term risk factors exposed in the study.
This research has reportedly been placed high on NASA’s list of the potential dangers to human life when involved in space exploration, in which time on the space station is limited to six month stints per person, while further studies are to be carried out with the aim of revealing the true extent to the problems posed to human health through continued space travel.
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