Going To Space Blurs Astronaut's Vision By Smashing Their Eyeballs

(Image: Radiological Society of North America via nytimes.com)

I always thought I couldn’t be an astronaut because I didn’t have 20/20 vision; the truth is if you’re nearsighted, being in a microgravity environment helps reverse your vision impairment and actually blurs the vision of individuals with perfect eyesight. The reason for this is that trip into space cause swelling and increase fluid around the eyes. This is caused simply because the downward pull on our bodies doesn’t exist in space, causing bodily fluids to shift towards the upper extremities. This pressure distorts the shape of the eyeball which in turn shifts the focal point of incoming light away from the photoreceptors on the retina. Well yippy! I dun told ya I was fit for some space explorin’! “Uhh, Well there are numerous other requiremte...” Dammit NASA! You’re nothing but a dreamcrusher. D-R-E-A-M-C-R-U-S-H-E-R! I can see why the gobernments been holding out on ya.

(Image: Common Eye Problems [IndianWomen'sHealth])

The Research...
Orbital and Intracranial Effects of Microgravity: Findings at 3-T MR Imaging [Radiology]