The eye is particularly vulnerable to injury during disasters because it is exposed, easily penetrated by sharp objects, and subject to rupture or contusion from blunt trauma. Eye injuries often occur in association with head trauma or multiple systemic injuries which require expert triage and staging of care to preserve both life and sight. Airborne chemicals or smoke can cause debilitating eye pain and vision loss which impair both the ability of disaster response personnel to work and the cooperation of victims. Furthermore, victims often lose eyeglasses during disasters and become functionally visually impaired. A trained team of eye specialists and specialized instruments and supplies are needed to effectively examine, triage, and treat eye injuries during times of disaster.

Prevent Blindness Texas, in partnership with the Houston Ophthalmological Society, and the City of Houston Eye Van program (which is staffed and supported by the University of Houston College of Optometry), provides a framework for responding to eye injuries resulting from disasters within our jurisdiction. Our Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) is the result of extensive planning and preparedness and contains systems and procedures for managing the human and material resources of the organizations in providing emergency eye care to victims of disaster. It also considers the impact on vision and eye injury from various potential disasters, along wtih the procedures to notify and mobilize eye care workers, secure emergency equipment and supplies needed to treat eye injuries, as well as triage procedures and documentation of care.

The DRP serves a potential population of more than 5,500,000 from 10 counties. The most common disasters that occur within this jurisdiction are flooding, hurricane, chemical spills, explosion, and fire. Houston is also considered a potential target for terrorist activities due to extensive business and industrial development and high population density. The major areas within the jurisdiction are Houston, Sugar Land, Baytown, Clear Lake and Galveston.