Programmable lenses among proposed solutions to address vision needs during long space flights

Programmable eyeglass lenses are being made possible for astronauts in flight, and potentially for everyday use in the future, according to a presentation at the annual Prevent Blindness Focus on Eye Health National Summit in Washington, D.C.

Bob Main, ABOM, CEO of Web Vision Centers Group, discussed his ongoing work with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) and NASA for vision and eye health in space as part of the Vision for Mars Challenge.

“There are a lot of risks that go with [living in space],” he said. “And we are finding that the longer we leave people in space on long-duration flights, physical problems are starting to show up. Some of these are show stoppers; they are going to keep us from going to Mars, so we have to figure out what the solution is.”

In microgravity, for example, body fluid shifts, changes in intracranial pressure and flattening of the eye globe during long space flight could result in ocular problems such as hyperopic shifts, papilledema, choroidal folds and cotton wool spots.

For changes in visual acuity, Main and colleagues have developed programmable eyeglass lenses that can either change prescription in various regions of the lens or change the power of the lens to maximize vision at different distances. The lenses would be programmed in-flight using a laptop computer.

Web Vision Centers Group is working with two companies that have demonstrated the core technology to produce the programmable lenses.

After the technology is redesigned, the NSBRI and NASA hope the programmable lenses will be used to improve vision for mankind as well, Main said. – by Kristie L. Kahl

Disclosure: Main reports receiving grant support from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute.