For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 6, 2004
Save Your Vision Week, 2004
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Millions of Americans enjoy healthy vision. Yet, each year, many
of our citizens suffer from vision loss that could have been prevented
or reversed with effective detection and appropriate intervention.
Commemorating Save Your Vision Week reminds us of the importance of
including eye care as part of a regular preventive health routine.
Eating healthy foods, wearing safety glasses, and avoiding the
harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays are ways to help to keep
our eyes healthy. Regular, comprehensive exams are also important to
maintain good vision and eye health. For children, regular eye exams
can help parents ensure that their children's vision is developing
normally and can identify a problem before it becomes more serious.
For adults, eye care professionals can detect glaucoma and eye damage
from diabetes in the early stages of progression, thereby preventing
further harm. Diabetes can seriously affect vision in addition to
general health. An estimated 40 to 45 percent of all people diagnosed
with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy, a
leading cause of new cases of blindness in working-age Americans that
often presents few warning signs and no pain. Other eye diseases such
as glaucoma may cause vision damage and eventual blindness without the
individual being aware of a problem.
The Department of Health and Human Services is working to identify
opportunities to improve the health of all Americans through Healthy
People 2010, a national disease prevention plan. This plan includes the
Healthy Vision 2010 Initiative, which is addressing many of the
challenges posed by the loss or impairment of vision.
The Congress, by joint resolution approved December 30, 1963, as
amended (77 Stat. 629; 36 U.S.C. 138), has authorized and requested the
President to proclaim the first week in March of each year as "Save
Your Vision Week." During this week, I encourage all Americans to
learn more about ways to prevent eye problems for themselves and to
help others maintain the precious gift of sight.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim March 7 through March 13, 2004, as Save
Your Vision Week. I urge all Americans to participate by making eye
care and eye safety an important
part of their lives and to get regular eye examinations. I also
encourage eye care professionals, teachers, the media, and all public
and private organizations dedicated to preserving eyesight to join in
activities that will raise awareness of the measures all citizens can
take to protect vision.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth
day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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