Astronauts' eyeballs deformed by long missions in space, study finds

[Judi Lynn]

Astronauts' eyeballs deformed by long missions in space, study finds
Flattening at the back of their eyes may be caused by increased pressure of cerebrospinal fluid in microgravity
Ian Sample, science correspondent
The Guardian, Monday 12 March 2012

Brain scans of Nasa astronauts who have returned to Earth after more than a month in space have revealed potentially serious abnormalities that could jeopardise the future of long-term space missions.

Doctors examined 27 astronauts who had flown long-duration missions with the US space agency and found a pattern of deformities in their eyeballs, optic nerves and pituitary glands that remains unexplained.

The problems are similar to those caused by intracranial hypertension, a rare medical condition that occurs when pressure inside the skull rises and presses on the brain and the backs of the eyes.

Medical crews at Nasa and four other major space agencies in Europe, Russia, Japan and Canada are now investigating the issue. The agencies are screening astronauts before, during and after space missions to learn more about when the problem arises and the likely cause.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/mar/13/nasa-astronauts-eyeballs-deformed-space

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. To be solved by marijuana, reducing both intracranial and ocular pressure.

[immoderate]

3. You want to be my doctor?

I like how you 'operate.'

--imm

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. LOL

physician, heal thyself, along with the patients.

[bananas]

2. It doesn't happen to female astronauts.

http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/10/astronaut-feels-spaces-toll-on-his-body/

[Dead_Parrot]

5. Spacemen turn into bug-eyed monsters!

Film at 11.