Whereas World Glaucoma Day will be celebrated on March 12,
2010;
Whereas four percent of the global population, including
infants, children, and the elderly, are affected by glaucoma;
Whereas glaucoma disproportionately affects underserved
minority populations, with African-Americans having a three times greater risk
of developing this disease than Whites, and it is the leading cause of
irreversible vision loss in African-Americans and Hispanics;
Whereas research shows that an estimated 60,500,000 people
worldwide will be living with either angle closure glaucoma or primary open
angle glaucoma in 2010;
Whereas awareness is absolutely crucial, as glaucoma often
has no symptoms until vision loss occurs, and it is estimated that, in the
United States, more than half of glaucoma cases remain undiagnosed, and 90
percent of glaucoma cases are undiagnosed in developing countries;
Whereas glaucoma is the second leading cause of
preventable vision loss in the United States and it is the leading cause of
permanent blindness worldwide;
Whereas the World Health Organization estimates that there
are currently 4,500,000 people who have been blinded due to glaucoma, and this
number will rise to 11,200,000 by 2020;
Whereas early detection and treatment of glaucoma is
essential to halting or slowing down the progression towards severe visual
impairment or blindness; and
Whereas World Glaucoma Day offers an opportunity to
educate patients with glaucoma and those at risk for the disease that there are
means for detecting and treating it to save sight, by raising awareness and
providing helpful tips about the importance of regular screening, early
diagnosis, and appropriate treatment: Now, therefore, be it
That—
(1)it is the sense of Congress that—
(A)World Glaucoma Day provides a special
opportunity to educate the people of the United States about the dangers of
glaucoma and to take steps to encourage regular screenings, early diagnosis,
and appropriate treatment to prevent severe visual impairment or
blindness;
(B)it is appropriate
to acknowledge that 4,500,000 people have been blinded due to glaucoma and
regular screenings will reduce the number of undiagnosed cases and, in
combination with appropriate treatment, prevent the number of those blinded by
glaucoma from rising to 11,200,000 people in 2020;
(C)the American
Glaucoma Society should be recognized and applauded for its hard work in
raising awareness of the need for regular screenings, early diagnosis, and
proper treatment of glaucoma and its efforts to decrease the incidences of
undiagnosed and untreated glaucoma;
(D)the National Eye
Institute (NEI) should be recognized and applauded for its continuing
dedication to researching causes of glaucoma; and
(E)the Friends of the
Congressional Glaucoma Foundation should be recognized and applauded for
screening over 300,000 people in the United States for glaucoma and other eye
diseases; and
(2)Congress strongly recommends that national
and community health organizations, colleges and universities, and the
media—
(A)promote, through education, awareness of
the need for regular screenings and early diagnosis of glaucoma and strategies
to decrease the undiagnosed and untreated cases; and
(B)support the goals
and ideals of World Glaucoma Day.