Eye Surgery in Space Will Be a Necessity Soon

Topic: Space

Dr. Morgan Micheletti predicts that eye surgery will be needed in space as astronauts travel to the moon and Mars. He sent intraocular lenses (IOLs) into space to test how they withstand the harsh environment.

Dr. Morgan Micheletti, an eye surgeon from the Berkeley Eye Center in Houston, Texas, has been fascinated with space since he was a child. He believes that as people travel through space and stay on space stations for longer periods of time, cataract surgery will become necessary. In fact, he thinks that someone will need cataract surgery on Mars during his lifetime.

Dr. Micheletti sent 135 intraocular lenses (IOLs) made of different materials into space as part of the Joint Assessment Of Material Exposure In Space (JAMES) project. IOLs are used in cataract surgery to replace a cloudy lens with a clear one. The lenses were placed in special carriers on the International Space Station (ISS). Three locations on the ISS exposed the lenses to different conditions: high atomic oxygen, substantial ultraviolet (UV) from the sun, and partial shielding.

Dr. Micheletti's goal was not to test how IOLs would be shipped to Mars but to identify potential failure modes under harsh exposure. This will help him design better packaging, shielding, storage, and material selection strategies for future space missions.

Why It Matters

This research is important because it will help astronauts receive medical care in space without having to return to Earth. As human spaceflight expands, the need for eye surgery in space will become more pressing.

Key Facts

• Dr. Morgan Micheletti predicts that cataract surgery will be needed on Mars during his lifetime.
• 135 intraocular lenses (IOLs) were sent into space as part of the JAMES project.
• The IOLs were exposed to different conditions on the International Space Station (ISS).
• Dr. Micheletti's goal was to identify potential failure modes under harsh exposure.
• This research will help design better packaging, shielding, storage, and material selection strategies for future space missions.

Key Terms

intraocular lenses

lenses used in cataract surgery to replace a cloudy lens with a clear one

atomic oxygen

a type of oxygen that is highly reactive and can damage materials

ultraviolet (UV)

electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, which can cause damage to materials

Implications

This research is important because it will help astronauts receive medical care in space without having to return to Earth. As human spaceflight expands, the need for eye surgery in space will become more pressing.