Going to space is a dream for many , but it does n’t derive without serious health risk . Our torso has a fantastic ability to accommodate to the extreme environment , but microgravity leads toseveral consideration , especially during long trajectory .
One of them is called visual impairment intracranial press ( VIIP ) , which do spaceman to have vitiate imagination , with about two - third base of astronauts on long - condition missions reporting the circumstance . An analysis showed that the astronaut ’ eyeballs had become drop at the back , which in turn was creditworthy for inflaming the visual mettle .
The cause of VIIP has puzzled scientist for years , but a new work has in conclusion pinpointed the cause of this circumstance . The scientist call back the perpetrator is change in the intensity of cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) , which is come up in the brain and spinal cord . Their finding was presented at theannual meetingof the Radiological Society of North America .
" On Earth , the CSF organization is build to accommodate these pressure modification , but in space the system of rules is confused by the deficiency of the posture - related press changes , " lead author Dr Noam Alperin , professor of radioscopy and biomedical engineering at the University of Miami , said in astatement .
A before and after MRI image of an astronaut ’s eyes . Alperin et al .
On Earth , the CSF balance out the different press the middle might experience when we transfer stance . But in space , due to microgravity , the heart does n’t know up from down and it slowly flex as the fluid becomes equally mete out around the unquiet system .
The team took before and after high - closure MRI scan of astronauts from seven long - duration missions and nine short - duration ones .
retentive - duration cosmonaut had an increased flattening of the eye and a higher volume of CSF behind the bulb compared to scant - duration crews . The analyses also showed that the mellow the intensity of CSF , the larger the deformation honour .
" The research provides , for the first time , quantitative evidence obtained from short- and long - continuance astronauts pointing to the primary and verbatim role of the CSF in the globe deformations seen in cosmonaut with visual disability syndrome , " said Dr Alperin .
The team is looking to feign the conditions that lead to the effect and then contrive some countermeasures . This would be utilitarian for astronauts , as they adventure these consequence becoming irreversible during farsighted mission .
The centre flattens and the ocular nerve is bent by the CSF . Alperin et al .
