Web Vision Technologies to develop diagnostic device for spacecraft

Web Vision Technologies announced a plan to develop a diagnostic device to be deployed on spacecraft for comprehensive vision testing and evaluation and guiding medical interventions of astronauts who experience vision problems on potential deep space missions.

The Vision for Mars project will attempt to develop a diagnostic device that is compact and space hardened and can conduct vision tests such as retinal imaging, visual fields, functional vision, OCT and more, according to a press release.

Astronauts can experience significant vision issues on sustained space missions on the International Space Station. Spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome can lead to loss of visual function, swelling of the optic disc, globe flattening, choroidal folds, cotton wool spots and refractive shifts. NASA has installed off-the-shelf vision testing and diagnostic equipment on the space station to monitor the problem, but the devices will not withstand the rigors of space and are too large for a smaller spacecraft, according to the release.

“We are excited to be launching the Vision for Mars Project to help NASA find a solution for a single device, multipurpose vision testing equipment to be used on future spacecraft for deep space missions,” Bob Main, CEO of Web Vision Technologies, said in the release. “We are passionate about helping NASA achieve their goal of returning humans to the moon and traveling to Mars and beyond. In the next weeks we will be meeting with many executives from ophthalmic technology companies to find the right partner(s) to help us develop this important technology. We plan to finalize the selection of these partners in the first quarter of 2019.”