Publication
Title
Potential involvement of the ocular glymphatic system in optic disc edema in astronauts
Author
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: A significant proportion of the astronauts who spend extended periods in microgravity develop ophthalmic abnormalities, including optic disc edema, optic nerve sheath distention, globe flattening, chorioretinal folds, hyperopic refractive error shifts, and nerve fiber layer infarcts. A constellation of these neuro-ophthalmic findings has been termed spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome. An increased understanding of factors contributing to this syndrome is one of the top priorities for ESA and NASA because the length of missions is expected to increase substantially in the future. As discussed in the present article, the very recent discovery of an ocular glymphatic clearance system can potentially help to unlock mechanisms underlying microgravity-induced optic disc edema. Observations pertaining to the ocular glymphatic pathway provide supporting evidence for the hypothesis, originally proposed by our group, suggesting that the glymphatic outflow from the eye into the optic nerve may be impeded under prolonged microgravity conditions, leading to optic disc edema. Wostyn P, De Winne F, Stern C, Mader TH, Gibson CR, De Deyn PP. Potential involvement of the ocular glymphatic system in optic disc edema in astronauts. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(12):975977.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Aerospace medicine and human performance
Publication
2020
DOI
10.3357/AMHP.5670.2020
Volume/pages
91 :12 (2020) , p. 975-977
ISI
000594482900012
Pubmed ID
33243343
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 04.10.2021
Last edited 07.11.2024
To cite this reference