Persistent Globe Flattening in Astronauts following Long-Duration Spaceflight

Thomas H. Madera COL(R) US Army, Moab, Utah, USACorrespondence[email protected]

C. Robert Gibsonb Coastal Eye Associates, Webster, Texas, USA;c KBR, Houston, Texas, USA

Michael R. Barrattd NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Neil R. Millere Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Prem S. Subramanianf Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers UCHealth Eye Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA

Hanspeter E. Killerg Department of Ophthalmology, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland

William J. Tarverh NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

Ashot E. Sargsyanc KBR, Houston, Texas, USA

Kathleen Garciac KBR, Houston, Texas, USA

Stephen F. Harth NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

Larry A. Krameri Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Intervention, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Roy Riascosi Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Intervention, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Tyson J. Brunstetterj CAPT, US Navy, Detailed to NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA

William Lipskyb Coastal Eye Associates, Webster, Texas, USA

Peter Wostynk Department of Psychiatry, PC Sint-Amandus, Beernem, Belgium

Andrew G. Leel Department of Ophthalmology, Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA;m Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA;n Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA;o Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA;p Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA;q Department of Ophthalmology; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA;r Department of Ophthalmology, Texas A and M College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas, USA

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ABSTRACT

Posterior globe flattening has been well-documented in astronauts both during and after long-duration space flight (LDSF) and has been observed as early as 10 days into a mission on the International Space Station. Globe flattening (GF) is thought to be caused by the disc centred anterior forces created by elevated volume and/or pressure within the optic nerve sheath (ONS). This might be the result of increased intracranial pressure, increased intraorbital ONS pressure from compartmentalisation or a combination of these mechanisms. We report posterior GF in three astronauts that has persisted for 7 years or more following their return from LDSFs suggesting that permanent scleral remodelling may have occurred.

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Persistent Globe Flattening in Astronauts following Long-Duration Spaceflight

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Persistent Globe Flattening in Astronauts following Long-Duration Spaceflight

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