Local doctors provide research on vision loss during space travel

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Doctors at the Medical College of Georgia are working with “Polaris Dawn” to gain an understanding of how astronauts’ eyes change while they’re in space.

Medical experts are finding astronauts who’ve had concussions in the past are more likely to have varying degrees of vision problems when they come back.

MCG is focusing on its patented portable ultrasound technology to study the changes in the eye.

“They come back, and they can’t see out of part of their eye for the rest of their lives,” said Dr. Matt Lyon.

Lyon with MCG at Augusta University says it’s a problem he’s trying to solve as space travel continues evolving.

“People don’t know exactly why these astronauts are getting these visual defects, and some of them are permanent,” he said.

NASA says more than 70% of astronauts experience changes in vision after being in space.

Lyon is experimenting with portable ultrasound technology to study the changes of fluid in the eye during space travel.

“When you’re on Earth, gravity pushes fluid down, from away from your eyes and away from your head, and your body has to push it back up,” said Lyon.

His research is part of a bigger scope with 30 other institutions studying other potential health risks associated with long-term space travel.

But he says what they discover is not limited to space scenarios.

“The goal is that this would be used to help on Earth, you know, help detect concussions and traumatic brain injury, you know, again, something that’s portable, that can be used in space, can also be used, you know, at the football field,” said Lyon.

Lyon says he’s hopeful his research leads to answers to better prepare for a future in mass space travel.

“Coming up with mechanisms of how to study physiology in space, how to keep people healthy in space. I mean, that’s really a very exciting thing to be a part of,” said Lyon.

“Polaris Dawn” is looking to launch its SpaceX rocket on Tuesday morning in Florida.

They will be conducting 36 experiments to better understand the inner workings of the body during long space missions.

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