Can nearsighted people be astronauts?

Space is not good for your eyes — unless you are nearsighted, in which case it might help a bit. Trips to weightlessness can squash the eyeballs of astronauts, swell the optic nerves and blur vision — changes that often persist long after the astronauts return to weightbound Earth.

Can NASA astronauts have glasses?

Just like pilots, having 20/20 vision is a prerequisite to being an astronaut. But if you do wear glasses, all hope is not lost. If you have up to 20/100 uncorrected eyesight and it can be surgically corrected to 20/20 vision, you’re good to go!

Can you join the military with nearsightedness?

Poor vision typically will not limit your ability to serve in the U.S. Military, so long as your vision problem can be suitably corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses or vision correction surgery.

Can a person with weak eyesight be an astronaut?

Like airline pilots, astronauts have to have 20/20 vision, though applicants won’t be disqualified if they have 20/20 vision aided by eyeglasses. Aspiring astronauts who have surgery to correct their vision to 20/20 have to wait at least a year after surgical procedure before training starts.

Can astronauts wear contacts?

“The answer is yes, you can wear contacts in space. Some astronauts do wear them. If you want to become a mission specialist – the other kind of astronaut – your vision requirements are 20 over 200, once again correctable to 20/20. So you don’t have to have perfect vision to become an astronaut.”

Are astronauts allowed to wear specs?

Approximately 80 percent of the current astronaut corps wears eye correction (i.e. glasses or contact lenses). As long as the astronauts’ vision is correctable to 20/20, they’re allowed to fly. Even Apollo veteran John Young took his reading glasses along on STS-1.

What is myopia (nearsightedness)?

Myopia (nearsightedness) is a refractive error. Refractive error is when the eye does not bend (refract) light properly. Light does not focus correctly so images are not clear. In myopia, close objects look clear but distant objects appear blurred . Myopia is a common condition that affects an estimated 25\% of Americans.

Are people with nearsightedness at risk for other eye conditions?

People who have severe nearsightedness (also called high myopia) may also be at higher risk for other eye conditions, like retinal detachment (when the retina is pulled away from its normal position). Am I at risk for nearsightedness?

What can I do if I’m nearsighted?

If you’re nearsighted, your eye doctor can prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses to help you see clearly. What are the symptoms of nearsightedness? The most common symptoms of nearsightedness are:

How do I know if I have myopia?

If you are beginning to develop myopia, you may notice a few symptoms such as squinting, eye strain, or perhaps headaches. If you notice yourself squinting your eyes to see more clearly when viewing objects at a distance, or struggling to read road signs, this might indicate that you have myopia.