Spaceflight Ophthalmology and Medicine A Comprehensive Guide to Ocular Health and Related Systemic Health Risks in Astronauts and Space Travelers

Ryung Lee is a budding space medicine researcher with broad interests within the NASA Space Medicine Operations Division. As a protégé of Dr. Andrew Lee and Dr. Joshua Ong, he has led many new initiatives in this domain, including spaceflight associated dry eye syndrome (SADES), oculomics in spaceflight, and anterior segment diagnostics. As a Korean American, he hopes to see further international collaboration between KASA (Korean Aeronautics and Space Administration) and NASA

Joshua Ong, MD is a resident physician with a passion for protecting astronaut health. He has conducted research on several space medicine research projects, including a project that launched into space. He has presented at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Human Research Program Investigators' Workshop and strives to continue his lifelong journey in ophthalmology and space medicine.

Dr. Ethan Waisberg is an Academic Foundation Doctor at the University of Cambridge, in the UK. He conducts research in Spaceflight Associate Neuro-Ocular Syndrome, is a member of of NASA's Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Working Group and has co-published leading papers in space medicine, neuro-ophthalmology, extended reality, and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Berdahl is a dedicated ophthalmic surgeon known for his innovative approach to patient care and trust-building in vulnerable moments. His passion for surgical excellence has led him to co-invent the MKO melt, providing sedation during cataract surgeries without IVs or opioids, and to develop Interfeen, a drug for ocular conditions. As the founder of Balance Ophthalmics, he created a non-surgical method for glaucoma treatment, which received FDA approval in 2024. Dr. Berdahl is committed to advancing ophthalmology through collaboration and education, earning multiple accolades, including the 2024 Chester B. McVay Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research. His extensive education includes training at prestigious institutions such as Mayo Clinic and Duke University.

Dr. Lee began his academic career in 1994 as an Instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine, becoming an Associate Professor in 1998. In 2000, he joined the University of Iowa as an Associate Professor and later became a full Professor. He serves on the editorial boards of 12 journals, including the American Journal of Ophthalmology, and is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Academic Ophthalmology. A recipient of multiple awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Lee has a strong interest in resident training and has published extensively on teaching methods in ophthalmology residency programs. In 2009, he joined Houston Methodist Hospital and Research Institute, where he currently serves as Chair of the Blanton Eye Institute and is a Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College.