Spaceflight is not good for the human body. We've known for a long time that microgravity has a multitude of negative effects, most notably the weakening of bones. This can be alleviated through extensive exercise, however, according to this article the effect of microgravity on our vision could be enough to stop a manned trip to Mars.
The fact that spaceflight can affect vision is not new, but scientists are only just realizing the extent of the problem. 60 percent of American astronauts who spend extended time on the International Space Station experienced visual degradation. Scientists aren't entirely sure why this occurs, but the leading theory is that increased pressure in the skull is to blame, stemming from the fact that more fluids flow into the head while in a microgravity situation.
The big problem is that no one knows if the degradation will continue to occur indefinitely over an even longer time frame or if it will plateau over time. This question will become crucial to answer as we develop spacecraft capable of long-term space travel. It won't be brilliant if the astronauts get to Mars and can't see it because space ruined their eyesight.
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