Congress awaits approval of eye trauma measure for injured active-duty service members

Washington, DC-Congress is awaiting presidential approval of legislation designed to improve the ability of the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Veterans Health Administration to treat members of the military who have suffered serious eye injuries while on active duty.

The legislation, which Congress passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, would establish a Center of Excellence within the DoD to improve the tracking, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for service members who have incurred eye injuries. It also would create a formal registry that would house electronic records and enable the DoD and Department of Veterans Affairs to share patient information. The measure passed by Congress does not provide for funding for the center or registry, however.

The legislation was presented to President George W. Bush Dec. 19, but Dec. 28 he announced that he was withholding approval.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has joined the Blinded Veterans Association and other veterans’ service organizations in support of the legislation.