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New Centers Will Deliver Advanced Care for Serious Eye Injuries

Image of Army Brig. Gen. Katherine Simonson, Defense Health Agency Deputy Assistant Director of the Research and Engineering Directorate, and Dr. Barclay Butler, Assistant Director for Management, DHA, talks with Army Lt. Col. Samantha Rodgers, Ophthalmology chief (left), during a tour and designation ceremony April 19 at the Ocular Trauma Center – San Antonio Region, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The designation ceremony marked the launch of DHA’s first Ocular Trauma Center, comprised of personnel from Brooke Army Medical Center and the 59th Medical Group. (Photo: Larine H. Barr, DOD) . Army Brig. Gen. Katherine Simonson, Defense Health Agency Deputy Assistant Director of the Research and Engineering Directorate, and Dr. Barclay Butler, Assistant Director for Management, DHA, talks with Army Lt. Col. Samantha Rodgers, Ophthalmology chief (left), during a tour and designation ceremony April 19 at the Ocular Trauma Center – San Antonio Region, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The designation ceremony marked the launch of DHA’s first Ocular Trauma Center, comprised of personnel from Brooke Army Medical Center and the 59th Medical Group. (Photo: Larine H. Barr, DOD)

The Defense Health Agency launched the first of four Ocular Trauma Centers, which will become primary hubs for the treatment of complex eye injuries and development of cutting-edge research programs.

Established with the support of DHA's Vision Center of Excellence, the four centers will be capable of providing care across the full range of eye injuries – from initial medical/surgical management through visual rehabilitation and follow-on care in Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs facilities.

The first Ocular Trauma Center opened at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas on April 19. Three others are expected to open later this year, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center/Fort Belvoir Community Hospital; Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; and at Naval Medical Center San Diego, California.

The four centers will provide access to top-notch care for the entire military community, said Army Brig. Gen. Katherine Simonson, deputy assistant director, Defense Health Agency, Research & Engineering Directorate.

"The establishment of the Ocular Trauma Centers will provide access to eye care professionals from a variety of subspecialties, offering comprehensive eye injury treatment and rehabilitation, and cutting edge research disciplines, critical to vision-preserving care," Simonson said.

The origin of the Ocular Trauma Centers began several years ago when the Blinded Veterans Association asked the Vision Center of Excellence to conduct an analysis of ocular care services.

Eye injuries can be very complex, sometimes requiring complicated care coordination across teams of multiple subspecialists. VCE analyzed eye injury data among service members, including demographic and location information, and validated the results with the help of the Defense and Veterans Eye Injury and Vision Registry.

In June 2021, VCE presented formal recommendations to establish four regional centers. The plans were approved by DHA Director Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Ron Place, and Dr. Brian Lein, DHA assistant director for Healthcare Administration.

"Designation of the ocular trauma centers aligns seamlessly with the DHA priorities of Great Outcomes, Ready Medical Force, and Satisfied Patients," said Army Col. Scott McClellan, VCE branch chief.

The centers' long-term goals also include improvement of systemic ocular and vision care management for polytrauma patients with concurrent eye injuries, and to provide case management, or care coordination, to assist with ocular care management needs.

VCE will provide technical support and consultation to all four ocular trauma centers, along with data analysis to report on their effectiveness to Congress next year, McClellan said.

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Navy Expeditionary Medical Unit Rotations Provide Ongoing Support in the Middle East

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U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Freeman Morrison, a biomedical technician, left, and U.S. Navy Lt. j. g. Andrew Mappus, an emergency room nurse, right, assigned to Navy Expeditionary Medical Unit 10- Gulf, Rotation 13, are monitoring an U.S. Army Medic Task Force Buckeye, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, as he draws blood from an soldier on Dec. 20. (Photo by U.S. Navy Capt. Jerrol Walla)

The 30-member team conducted enhanced shore-based activities at Erbil Air Base in Iraq, where they provided life, limb, and eyesight-saving care to the U.S. armed forces, Department of Defense, civilian contractors, and multi-national coalition forces. They also provided critical support to facilities in the Eastern Syria Security Area.

Ensuring Sight for Flight at Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor

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Ocular trauma training with a focus on foreign body removal was conducted at Naval Health Clinic Oak Harbor’s Optometry by U.S. Navy Lt. Courtney Rafferty, clinic optometrist, assisted by U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Christopher Cruz. The training covered such optical concerns as removing metallic foreign bodies from the eye. The techniques used were part of ensuring competency to provide comprehensive eye and vision care needed for optimal – and ocular - mission readiness (Courtesy Photo)

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Dizziness and Visual Problems After Concussion

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More than 80% of all concussions—also known as mild traumatic brain injury—in the military are considered mild. Dizziness and visual problems are among the most common symptoms after concussion and often resolve within days or weeks

Acute Concussion Care Pathway: MACE 2 and PRA Training

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Report Reveals Military Hearing Loss is Stable

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Concussion Protocols Aid Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery

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Whether on the sport field or the battlefield, the Defense Health Agency is the global leader in research on the effects of concussion—known as mild traumatic brain injury—in the military. Its research has fueled the development of protocols to help providers assess and treat concussion from initial injury to acute and post-acute medical settings, rehabilitation, and, ultimately, a return to family, community, work, continued duty, or recreation.

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Last Updated: February 01, 2023
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