Spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS) is a unique phenomenon that has been observed in astronauts who have undergone long-duration spaceflight (LDSF). The syndrome is characterized by distinct imaging and clinical findings including optic disc edema, hyperopic refractive shift, posterior globe flattening, and choroidal folds. SANS serves a large barrier to planetary spaceflight such as a mission to Mars and has been noted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a high risk based on its likelihood to occur and its severity to human health and mission performance. While it is a large barrier to future spaceflight, the underlying etiology of SANS is not well understood. Current ophthalmic imaging onboard the International Space Station (ISS) has provided further insights into SANS. However, the spaceflight environment presents with unique challenges and limitations to further understand this microgravity-induced phenomenon. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the field of imaging in ophthalmology, particularly in detection and monitoring. In this manuscript, we describe the current hypothesized pathophysiology of SANS and the medical diagnostic limitations during spaceflight to further understand its pathogenesis. We then introduce and describe various AI frameworks that can be applied to ophthalmic imaging onboard the ISS to further understand SANS including supervised/unsupervised learning, generative adversarial networks, and transfer learning. We conclude by describing current research in this area to further understand SANS with the goal of enabling deeper insights into SANS and safer spaceflight for future missions.

During interplanetary spaceflight, periods of extreme gravitational transitions will occur such as transitions between hypergravity, hypogravity, and microgravity. Following gravitational transitions, rapid sensorimotor adaptation or maladaptation may occur which can affect gaze control and weaken dynamic visual acuity in astronauts. A reduction in dynamic visual acuity during spaceflight could possibly impact or impair mission critical activities (e.g., control of extraterrestrial machinery/vehicles and other important tasks). Stroboscopic visual training is an emerging visual tool that has been terrestrially observed to enhance visual performance and perception by performing tasks under conditions of intermittent vision. This technique has also been seen to increase the dynamic visual acuity for individuals terrestrially. To mitigate the decreased dynamic visual acuity that is observed in astronauts following gravitational transitions, stroboscopic vision training may serve as a potential countermeasure. We describe the effects of gravitational transitions on the vestibulo-ocular system and dynamic visual acuity, review terrestrial stroboscopic visual training, and report the novel development of stroboscopic augmented reality as a possible countermeasure for G-transitions in future spaceflight.