Smaller optic cup size may be risk factor for optic disc edema during spaceflight
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Small optic cup size may contribute to spaceflight-induced optic disc edema, according to a study. Several other ocular factors, as well as age, sex and body weight, showed no significant association with the edema.
Optic disc edema (ODE), a manifestation of spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, develops in approximately 70% of crew members involved in long-duration missions in the International Space Station, the authors said. However, there is great interindividual variability in the time of onset and magnitude of ODE, and it is not clear why some individuals develop it and some do not.
Establishing the risk factors associated with ODE is a top priority, particularly in view of planned missions to the moon and Mars.
“Chronic ODE during extended-duration (> 1 year) missions may be associated with an increase in the risk of developing permanent vision loss,” the authors wrote.
The study retrospectively analyzed the data of 31 International Space Station crew members who underwent eye and physical examinations before and after a mission of 200 days on average. Mean age was 46.9 ± 6 years; 25 were men, and six were women.
Signs of ODE developed in 23 participants, with an increase in peripapillary total retinal thickness (TRT) greater than 19.4 µm. TRT increase was associated with smaller, shallower and narrower preflight optic cup morphology. No association was found with other ocular measures, such as Bruch membrane opening area, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, choroidal thickness, axial length or refractive error. Other parameters, including body weight, body mass index, age, sex or previous spaceflight experience, were also not associated with increased TRT.
“Crew members with small optic cups may be predisposed to developing optic disc edema during spaceflight and may benefit from enhanced ophthalmic monitoring and use of countermeasures against spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome,” the authors wrote.
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