5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  SANS affects the eye and optic nerve during long-duration spaceflight, with 81% of NASA astronauts showing at least one feature post-mission.

• 2

  The new expert consensus aims to standardize the diagnosis and management of SANS, involving NASA specialists and cerebrospinal fluid disorder experts.

• 3

  Structural changes from SANS, such as globe flattening, can persist for years after returning to Earth, although no permanent vision loss has been documented.

• 4

  Current monitoring includes standardized eye exams and OCT, with astronauts trained to perform assessments in orbit during missions.

• 5

  No established therapy for SANS exists, but potential countermeasures are being explored, including drugs and devices to manage intracranial pressure.