Microgravity and Vision Impairments in Astronauts

Erik Seedhouse (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

XII, 96 Seiten

2015 | 1st ed. 2015
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-319-17869-1 (ISBN)

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Recent missions on board the International Space Station have revealed previously unreported physiological consequences of long duration space flight, particularly in eyesight, and in this Brief Dr. Seedhouse reviews the existing theories on what causes this degeneration and how long it will last. Notably, 60% of long-duration crews have reported subjective degradation in vision, a clear indication that further study is necessary before astronauts embark on even longer-term space missions. Decreased near-visual acuity was reported in 46% of ISS/Mir crewmembers, resulting in a change of up to 2 dioptres in their refractive correction. It is possible that ophthalmic changes have been present since the first days of spaceflight, but had been attributed to other causes; this approach to the issue as well as other hypotheses are all presented in full to give a broad foundation of the existing knowledge on the topic. The changes have occurred at various times during a mission with varying degrees of visual degradation. Some cases resolved on return to Earth, but several crewmembers have not regained pre-flight visual acuity, indicating the damage may be permanent. One explanation of the syndrome has been attributed to hyperopic shift due to aging, but onboard analysis techniques, including visual acuity assessments, retinal imagery, and ultrasound examination of the eye, has led to the acceptance of a wider syndrome. In addition to vision changes, studies have reported flattening of the globe, swelling of the optic disc (papilledema), choroidal folds in the retina, swelling of the optic nerve sheath, and visual field defects. It is widely hypothesized that this spectrum of symptoms may be explained by an elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP). Establishing the provenance of this medical problem, monitoring its occurrence and resolving the symptoms for future long term space missions is a key challenge for space medicine. With this book, readers have an entrypoint for understanding the full scope of the problem and its possible origins.

Dr. Erik Seedhouse worked as an Astronaut Training Consultant for Bigelow Aerospace in 2005, a company for whom he wrote the Spaceflight Participants Flight Surgeon's Manual. He also developed astronaut-training protocols for future spaceflight participants and wrote and edited several chapters of Bigelow Aerospace's Astronaut Training Manual. Erik is a research scientist specializing in environmental life sciences and physiology, the subject in which he obtained his PhD in Physiology while working for the European Space Agency between 1996 and 1998. In 2009, he was one of the final candidates for selection as an astronaut in the CSA's Astronaut Recruitment Campaign. He is also Training Director for for Hire.

Introduction.- Syndrome-specific Anatomy and Physiology.- Earth-bound Pathophysiology of Increased Intracranial Pressure.- Pathophysiology of Increased Intracranial Pressure in Weightlessness.- Pathology, demographics and anatomy of papilledema.- Microgravity Induced Cephalad Fluid Shift.- The Role of Carbon Dioxide.- Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED).- Diet on board the International Space Station.

Erscheint lt. Verlag	25.9.2015
Reihe/Serie	SpringerBriefs in Space Development
Zusatzinfo	XII, 96 p. 49 illus., 46 illus. in color.
Verlagsort	Cham
Sprache	englisch
Maße	155 x 235 mm
Themenwelt	Medizin / Pharmazie ► Medizinische Fachgebiete ► Augenheilkunde
Themenwelt	Technik ► Luft- / Raumfahrttechnik
Schlagworte	Cardiovascular System in Orbit • Cerebral Hemodynamics in Space • Fluid Shift in Space • Intracranial Pressure from Spaceflight • Intraocular Pressure for Astronauts • Microgravity Effects on Health • Microgravity Impact on Eyesight • Pathophysiology of Astronauts • Resistive Exercise and the ISS • Weightlessness Effect on Health
ISBN-10	3-319-17869-5 / 3319178695
ISBN-13	978-3-319-17869-1 / 9783319178691
Zustand	Neuware