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Ocular Trauma Centers

In support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (Sec. 721), we have established Ocular Trauma Centers (OTCs). This Memorandum establishes the Defense Health Agency’s (DHA) OTCs for the enhanced treatment of ocular wounds and injuries. 

Patients have access to specialized and subspeciality services. These are located where graduate medical education and residency training take place. This ensures care from trained medical teams. Our centers are referral hubs for service members, eligible veterans, and covered beneficiaries seeking:

  • Full-scale eye emergency services
  • Specialized treatment
  • Vision rehab services
  • Referrals for follow-on care

These regional locations provide around-the-clock care. They are equipped to manage all eye injuries. The Centers are guided by the DHA. They are also guided by Tri-Service Ophthalmology and Optometry Consultants. This helps them maintain full capabilities. It also helps them meet functional requirements.

Patient Treatment and Referrals

If you're a TRICARE beneficiary and get a referral to an Ocular Trauma Center, you'll follow TRICARE's referralgoes to TRICARE.mil process.

If you're a provider, you'll refer your patient to an OTC when their eye injury:

  • Requires attention from a subspecialist not available at the referring location
  • Has significant complications
  • Requires attention from multiple specialties
  • Requires rehabilitation

Patients should not be referred to an OTC for routine ophthalmology or optometry visits.

OTCs provide services to:

  • Service members
  • Eligible beneficiaries, retirees, and veterans

OTCs provide a centralized comprehensive quality assessment and treatment program for ocular trauma across the Military Health System. Our vision care services coordinators assist with the continuity of care and referral process for the patient.

Specialties/Subspecialties

  • Keratoplasty (penetrating, lamellar, or endothelial)
  • Scleral Fixated Intraocular lenses
  • Iris Reconstruction
  • Primary surgical trabeculectomy and adjunct chemotherapy for glaucoma filtering surgery
  • Seton/glaucoma drainage implant for glaucoma
  • Cyclodialysis cleft repair
  • Iris reconstruction
  • Oculoplastic/Orbital surgery
  • Orbital fracture repair
  • Excision of orbital tumor or lesion and orbital foreign body removal
  • Orbital exoneration
  • Exploration by lateral orbitotomy
  • Orbital volume expansion
  • Repair of contracted socket; orbital
  • Retinal detachment repair
  • Pars plana vitrectomy
  • Scleral buckle
  • Gas-Pneumo-Retinopexy
  • Subretinal dissection/membrane removal
  • Subretinal hemorrhage evacuation; subretinal
  • Therapeutic agent injection; macular translocation
  • Macular hole repair
  • Epiretinal membrane removal; internal limiting
  • Membrane removal; release of vitreomacular traction; scleral fixed drug depot implant; retinal biopsy
  • Removal of intraocular foreign bodies from posterior segment
  • Draining choroidal effusions/hemorrhages
  • Endoscopic posterior segment surgeries, endo-cyclo-photocoagulative ablation
  • Scleral fixated intraocular lenses
  • Intravitreal taps and injections
  • Iris reconstruction
  • Strabismus surgery on horizontal muscles
  • Strabismus surgery on vertical and oblique muscles
  • Botulinum toxin injection of extraocular muscles
  • Specialty contact lens
  • Low Vision Rehabilitation for service member covered through established agreement with Veteran Affairs

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Policy
Nov 18, 2022

Memorandum: Designation of Ocular Trauma Centers

.PDF | 102.27 KB

This memorandum pursuant to section 721 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 gives instruction to stand four regional centers of excellence with the DHA. The Ocular Trauma Centers are as follows: (1) Brooke Army Medical Center/Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center; (2) Walter Reed National Military Medical Center/Fort ...

  • Identification #: N/A
  • Type: Memorandum
Last Updated: September 12, 2024
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