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Response to ‘Deep learning in ophthalmic ultrasound to enable further insights in Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS)’

Eye (2023)Cite this article

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We thank Masalkhi et al. for their letter [1]. Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) findings include optic disc edema (ODE), globe flattening, choroidal folds, and hyperopic shift in astronauts during and after long-duration spaceflight [2]. These findings can be acquired with ophthalmic examination instruments, such as ultrasound, optical coherence tomography (OCT), computer optometry, etc.

Typical ODE is shown on ultrasound as heterogeneous hypoechoic bulges with varying degrees of spherical wall echo in the optic disc area, and the degree of the ODE can be quantitatively measured by ultrasound. However, we believe that ultrasound imaging of the retrobulbar optic nerve may not be suitable for monitoring this syndrome. In the case of optic disc swelling, the blood flow parameters of vessels may be affected to varying degrees, so we suggest considering the use of CDFI to monitor changes in retrobulbar blood flow in astronauts before and after entering the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally, the application of transcranial CDFI to monitor changes in cerebral blood flow can provide evidence for the mechanism of SANS.

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References

  1. Masalkhi M, Ong J, Waisberg E, Lee AG. Deep learning in Ophthalmic and Orbital Ultrasound for Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). Eye. 2023. In press

  2. Ong J, Waisberg E, Masalkhi M, Kamran SA, Lowry K, Sarker P, et al. Artificial intelligence frameworks to detect and investigate the pathophysiology of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS). Brain Sci. 2023;13:1148.

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Funding

This study was funded by Scientifc Research Funding for Education Department of Liaoning Province (Grant No. ZD2020002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Eye Hospital of China Medical University, The Key Laboratory of Lens in Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China

    Li Feng, Hui Qiu & Mingyu Shi

  2. Shenyang Ligong University, Shenyang, China

    Yanzhu Zhang

  3. Hebei Eye Hospital, Xingtai, China

    Wei Wei

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  1. Li Feng
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  2. Yanzhu Zhang
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  3. Wei Wei
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  4. Hui Qiu
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Contributions

LF and MS were involved in the conception and conduct, LF, HQ and MS were drafted this manuscript, and YZ, WW and MS were involved in review the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mingyu Shi.

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Feng, L., Zhang, Y., Wei, W. et al. Response to ‘Deep learning in ophthalmic ultrasound to enable further insights in Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS)’. Eye (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02878-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02878-1

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