Eye Health and Safety Published Oct. 28, 2015 By TRICARE.mil Staff Communications Division, Defense Health Agency FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- October is Home Eye Safety Month. You may think your chances of being hurt decrease because you’re at home, but safety should remain a top concern, especially for your eyes. Prevent Blindness America reports that more than half of the 2.5 million eye injuries that occur every year happen in or around the home. According to a report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Society of Ocular Trauma (ASOT), the most common place of injury is the yard or garden. For more information on how to protect your eyes at home and specific eye protection recommendations, call Prevent Blindness America at (800) 331-2020 or visit preventblindness.org. In addition to protecting your eyes from accidental injury, you should get regular eye examinations to monitor your eye health. TRICARE covers eye examinations for children under the well-child benefit, and routine eye exams for active duty service members to maintain fit-for-duty status. Active duty family members are covered for one routine eye examination each year. This includes National Guard and Reserve members and their families enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select. For retired service members and their families enrolled in TRICARE Prime, routine eye examinations from network providers are covered without referrals or prior authorizations once every two years. Your eye exam coverage depends on who you are, your age and your TRICARE plan. For detailed information, visit the Eye Exams page on the TRICARE website. Certain conditions, like cataracts, can be caused by diabetes or other eye conditions. TRICARE covers certain services and supplies required to diagnosis and treatment an illness or injury involving the eye and areas around to the eyes. An eye injury can occur in a split second and have a lifelong impact on your vision. Be sure to get regular eye exams and practice eye safety.