Unique neuroocular changes affect a subset of astronauts who have completed prolonged spaceflight missions. Due to its unique pathophysiology, a new case definition was recently proposed, and the condition was renamed Space flight Associated Neuroocular Syndrome (SANS). There has recently been a surge of research to address existing knowledge gaps in determining the etiology of SANS and monitoring its risk of development and progression, both in space and by studying terrestrial analogs. The complex and multifaceted nature of SANS requires approaches from multiple domains, e.g., development of animal models, pathophysiological studies, as well as novel computational and data analytic techniques.

Although currently hyperopic shift is the only observed functional change during long-term spaceflight, it is unclear whether other and more severe functional vision deficits such as changes in color perception, contrast sensitivity deficit, visual field defects, or metamorphopsia develop and/or progress due to microgravity or other spaceflight related exposures. Unlike hyperopic shift, many of these vision alterations cannot be resolved with corrective lenses and have the potential to become mission critical challenges. There is a need for researchers from multiple disciplines to investigate the effects of various spaceflight exposures on the human visual pathways in order to ensure the safety of astronauts and the success of future long-term spaceflight missions. Such studies will have the potential to provide more insight into the etiology of SANS, its impact on the neuroocular structure, and potential countermeasures to mitigate the risk of SANS and its progression during future long-term spaceflight missions.

Articles addressing any aspect of spaceflight-associated neuroocular syndrome (SANS) are considered in this special topic. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, visual assessment, imaging neuroocular structure, animal models, terrestrial analogs, data analytics, countermeasures, and computational approaches.

The following article types are considered in this research topic:
- Type (A) Articles: Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Review, Hypothesis & Theory, Clinical Trial, Classification, Technology and Code, Study Protocol
- Type (B) Articles: Mini Review, Perspective, Case Report, Brief Research Report
- Type (C) Articles: Data Report, General Commentary, Opinion

Topic Editor, Prof Ali Tavakkoli is the founder of Eye Sight Quest, a medical technology company focused on developing diagnostic tools using advanced visualization engineering for evaluation and correction of neuroocular error.

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Frontiers in Ophthalmology

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