More than 16% of all injuries sustained by U.S. soldiers in Iraq are eye injuries, according to the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) quoting military data. Two types of eye injuries have become more prevalent: direct blast injury to the eye and traumatic brain injury, in which the eyes do not necessarily suffer injury but the brain sustains severe concussion that affects nerve pathways related to sight.

To that end, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced the Neuro-Optometric Center of Excellence bill (S.1999), cosponsored by Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Pete Domenici (R-N.M.). With the increasing number of injuries from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), soldiers are oftentimes seriously wounded without showing any outward signs, says Sen. Kerry. This legislation will allow more doctors to be trained to diagnose, treat and rehabilitate soldiers with such injuries.