Cataract Surgery In Space Predicted
Dr. Morgan Micheletti forecasts the need for cataract surgery on Mars due to prolonged space travel, and has researched medical supply protection for space missions
Dr. Morgan Micheletti, an eye surgeon from the Berkeley Eye Center in Houston, Texas, U.S., predicts that cataract surgery will be necessary in space as astronauts travel to the moon and Mars. He believes that someone will need cataract surgery on Mars in his lifetime due to the long duration of space travel and the potential for vision problems to arise during missions.
Dr. Micheletti spoke at the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), where he discussed the importance of preparing for medical procedures in space. As part of the Joint Assessment Of Material Exposure In Space (JAMES) project, he sent 135 unpackaged intraocular lenses (IOLs) to the International Space Station (ISS) to investigate how medical supplies can be packed and protected for space travel.
The IOLs were placed in special carriers called CLAIRE (Carrier for Lens Analysis in Interstellar Research Expeditions) on the outside of the ISS, situated in three different locations: Ram, Zenith, and Underdeck. This research aims to determine the best ways to transport, store, and protect medical equipment in space.
Astronaut candidates do not need perfect uncorrected vision to be selected, and refractive correction or certain prior refractive surgeries can be compatible with selection. However, good vision at launch does not prevent aging, radiation exposure, injury, or disease later. As human spaceflight expands beyond career astronauts, the traveler population will also become more diverse.
## Why it matters The need for cataract surgery in space is a pressing concern due to the long duration of space travel, which can require almost a year for a Mars transit. Returning to Earth for a vision-limiting cataract, injury, or other surgical eye problem may not be realistic. Therefore, treatment will need to happen where the patient is, making it essential to design and validate medical systems for space long before the first patient needs them.
Dr. Micheletti's research highlights the importance of preparing for medical procedures in space, particularly as human spaceflight expands to include more diverse populations. As astronauts travel to the moon and Mars, the need for cataract surgery and other medical procedures will become increasingly important, and researchers like Dr. Micheletti are working to ensure that medical supplies and equipment are ready for the challenges of space travel.
