The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is advancing efforts to protect veterans’ vision through the Technology-based Eye Care Services (TECS) program. This telehealth initiative is designed to bring critical eye screenings closer to home, especially for those in rural areas.
Life-Saving Screenings for Rural Veterans
Robert, a veteran from rural Iowa, visited the Mason City VA Clinic to establish his VA care. During his visit, he underwent an eye screening through the TECS program. The routine checkup revealed that Robert had dangerously high eye pressure—a key indicator of glaucoma. Thanks to the prompt actions of certified ophthalmology technician Amber Ashland and remote ophthalmologist Dr. Morgan Pansegrau, Robert received immediate treatment that likely saved his eyesight.
In Atlanta, another veteran, Donald, also benefited from a TECS appointment. Ophthalmology technician Shaquita Cooley identified “narrow angles” in his eyes, a sign of advanced glaucoma. Following urgent instructions from Dr. Trennda Rittenbach, Donald was referred for emergency surgery, preventing further vision loss.
Expanding Access Through Telehealth
TECS, launched by the VA’s Office of Rural Health in 2017, is part of the broader VA TeleEye program. It allows veterans to receive essential eye care services at their nearest VA primary care clinic. This saves them time, travel costs, and potentially their eyesight. Routine screenings are crucial, as eye diseases like cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration often develop without early symptoms.
“Telehealth really allows us to expand our access to be closer to veterans, so they save time and travel costs,” said Dr. April Maa, TECS founder and national TeleEye co-lead for the VA Office of Connected Care. TECS enables veterans to receive comprehensive eye screenings using advanced digital tools. The clinical information is then reviewed by remote eye specialists.
Early Detection Makes a Difference
The experiences of Robert and Donald highlight the life-changing impact of early detection and prompt treatment. “Glaucoma is a blinding disease that is silent until it reaches very late stages,” said Dr. Maa. “Because these veterans used our TECS program, we could catch these issues early and get them the care they needed.”
The VA urges all veterans, particularly those in rural areas where eye specialists are scarce, to prioritize routine eye screenings. Veterans can ask about TECS appointments at their local VA clinic to maintain their vision health.
For more information on VA TeleEye and other telehealth programs, visit the VA Telehealth website.
