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Potential Risks of Ocular Molecular and Cellular Changes in Spaceflight.
Ryung Lee1, Joshua Ong2, Ethan Waisberg3
1Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Seminars in Ophthalmology
|March 17, 2025
Summary
Spaceflight causes molecular changes like oxidative stress and DNA damage, increasing risks for astronaut vision problems. Understanding these effects on ocular cells is crucial for deep-space exploration safety.
Area of Science:
- Space biology
- Ophthalmology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Spaceflight induces cellular and molecular alterations including oxidative stress, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetic changes, telomere dynamics, and microbiome shifts.
- These changes can impact ocular cells like retinal ganglion cells and corneal epithelium.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review molecular changes during spaceflight.
- To apply these principles to ocular cells and assess ophthalmic disease risks for astronauts.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases was performed up to July 2024.
- Keywords included "oxidative stress," "DNA damage," "Mitochondrial Dysfunction," "Epigenetics," "Telomeres," "Microbiome," "ocular cells," "spaceflight," "microgravity," and "radiation."
Main Results:
- 115 articles were included in the review.
- Molecular changes identified contribute to ophthalmic conditions such as cataracts, spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), and dry eye syndrome.
Conclusions:
- This review summarizes vision risks for astronauts on long-duration missions beyond low Earth orbit.
- Further research on countermeasures is essential to prevent vision loss in astronauts during deep-space exploration.
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