Central Blind
Rehabilitation Center
Hines VA Hospital
PO Box 5000 (124)
Hines, IL 60141

Phone: 708-202-2272
Fax: 708-202-7949
hinesbrc@med.va.gov

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Central Blind Rehabilitation Center (CBRC) at Hines, Illinois

Who We Serve

Most of the persons we serve are veterans between the ages of 70 and 79. However, we provide rehab services for veterans from their 20's to their 90's. Currently, most of our patients served during WWII. Veterans from the Vietnam and Korean eras also make up a good portion of our patient population. Most veterans who come to the Blind Center today have not lost their sight due to combat, but from various forms of eye disease. At this time nearly 48% of our patients have Macular Degeneration. Other common eye conditions include Diabetic Retinopathy, Glaucoma and trauma.  The 14 states served by the CBRC include: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  Portions of Oklahoma and Pennsylvania are also served by the CBRC.

Demographics from 2005

• Causes of blindness for CBRC patients in 2005
  • Optic Nerve Disease - 5 veterans
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa - 18 veterans
  • Trauma - 19 veterans
  • Diabetic Retinopathy - 36 veterans
  • Glaucoma – 55 veterans
  • Macular Degeneration - 107 veterans
  • Other - 45 veterans
• Breakdown of veterans served at the CBRC in 2005 by age
  • Ages 20 to 49-9.3%
  • Ages 50 to 69-36.9%
  • Age 70 and higher-53.7%
• Era of Service Represented at CBRC in 2005
  • World War II - 35.5%
  • Korea and Post - 22.9%
  • Vietnam and Post - 38.7%
  • Persian Gulf and Post - 2.9%