Researchers at GE Global Research were awarded a three-year grant to develop and test an ultrasound probe and measurement techniques for NASA that could be used in space to monitor how microgravity affects astronauts' vision.
The new probe will be designed to deliver real-time, 3D pictures, showing the entire globe of the eye in a single scan, as well as any potential changes in the structure and function of the eye.
In at least seven documented cases, astronauts returning to Earth needed adjustments in their vision prescription. One possible cause for these symptoms is elevated intracranial pressure from exposure to spaceflight, which might trigger a change in the shape of the eye.
The results of this ultrasound research could also increase understanding of traumatic brain injuries, and lead to better monitoring of pressure changes in the brains of patients with head trauma.
