Astronauts who spend extended periods of time in space are at high risk for a vision issue called spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). When we sleep on earth, the blood and spinal fluid that flows to our head while we’re sleeping naturally drains away when we get up in the morning, but in space, the lack of gravity means this fluid builds up, putting stress on the eyeballs and optic nerve. Fortunately, researchers think they may have a solution to this problem in the form of an experimental vacuum-sealed sleeping bag.
Developed by Dr. Benjamin Levine and colleagues at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center, the sleeping bag has a rigid frame with a gasket that seals around the user’s waist once they climb inside. The idea is that by creating a vacuum seal around the lower body, it will draw fluids away from the user’s head.
To test the technology, the team had 10 dedicated volunteers spend six days laying down to replicate the build up of fluid one would experience in space. Three of the six used the sleeping bag, and three did not. When the volunteers were examined, the researchers found that their choroid─part of the eye─was significantly less swollen if they used the sleeping bag.
This new technology could help solve one of the biggest health risks associated with space travel, and its relatively simple design means it could be quickly implemented if approved for use by space agencies.
Source study: JAMA Ophthalmology – Effect of Nightly Lower Body Negative Pressure on Choroid Engorgement in a Model of Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome
