Page 10 - True Stories

We give to those who gave all.
The soldier’s visual symptoms were typical
of veterans recovering from traumatic brain injury sustained on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan: blurred vision, photosensitivity, and severe dry eyes. Through her work at a Veterans Affairs medical center, his doctor
of optometry well knew that such residual symptoms are complex, multisensory, and often neurologically based. They also require the collaborative care of an interprofessional health care team. Over the course of several months, the optometrist worked closely
with her colleagues on the wounded vet’s care. Tinted corrective lenses addressed
his photosensitivity, while scleral contact lenses, which buffer the eye with artificial tears, eased the discomfort from his extreme dry eyes. While the team continues to work with the veteran on his pain and frequent headaches, relief of his debilitating eye symptoms puts him one step closer
to recovery.
MILITARY/VETERANS AFFAIRS OPTOMETRY. Some doctors of optometry serve as active-duty officers with the military medical corps, while others care for the country’s veterans at hundreds of Veterans Affairs sites nationwide.
INTERPROFESSIONAL HEALTH CARE TEAMS. Doctors of optometry collaborate with physicians and other health care professionals on an integrated approach to patient care, in settings such as clinics, hospitals, and specialized centers.
Page 8
www.optometriceducation.org