Tyson Brunstetter, OD, PhD, shares key takeaways from his keynote at the International SPECTRALIS Symposium

Heidelberg Engineering holds its 21st International SPECTRALIS Symposium (ISS) in its eponymous hometown of Heidelberg, Germany, on 13 and 14 June, 2025. The first ISS held in the newly-opened Heidelberg Congress Center will include a keynote address by two scientists from the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Tyson J. Brunstetter, MBA, OD, PhD, FAAO, FAsMA, is a US Navy aerospace optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He is the clinical lead for NASA’s research into spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), a condition which is common among astronauts, especially during long-duration missions.

In an interview with Ophthalmology Times Europe, Dr Brunstetter discussed the keynote address. He delivered the keynote in conjunction with Warren “Woody” Hoburg, who is part of the NASA astronaut class of 2017 and logged a total of 186 days in space on his first flight.

Dr Brunstetter provided deep background on SANS and its distinctions from other neuro-ophthalmic pathologies. Additionally, he encouraged audiences to think outside the box—or, when necessary, outside gravity—in their own day-to-day lives.