Optical absorption spectra of TeO2 crystals, irradiated at room temperature by up to 2.10(18) cm(-2) 10-MeV electrons and subsequently annealed to 575 K, are studied. The dependence of Urbach absorption edge parameters in TeO2 on the electron beam fluence is discussed. The irradiation-induced near-edge broad (2.5-3.5 eV) absorption band is shown to be related to oxygen vacancies, annealing at 475-525 K.