[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           THE GIFT OF SIGHT

                                 ______


                            HON. JOHN BRYANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 23, 1994

  Mr. BRYANT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues of the 
importance of preserving sight. Impairment of this precious sense can 
be debilitating, and in some cases cause complete dysfunction, robbing 
an individual of living a normal, productive life. Unobstructed sight 
serves as the largest data intake function of the human body. Special 
care and attention must be paid to improving, maintaining, and 
restoring this sense.
  It is not only important to observe routine eye care, but to advance 
initiatives which educate Americans on methods to protect the human eye 
from damage and to provide options for those with impaired sight. 
Today, corneal transplantation provides many Americans with a chance of 
sight. In 1992, over 92,000 donor eyes were used by eye banks across 
the United States and Canada to restore or enhance sight and conduct 
research. It is with this valuable service in mind, I join with the Eye 
Bank Association of America [EBAA] in their effort to promote the month 
of March 1994 as ``National Sight Conservation and Eye Donor Awareness 
Month.''
  Since 1961, when the EBAA was founded, more than 440,133 corneal 
transplants have been performed with a 90-percent success rate. The 
success rate of this procedure represents the highest success rate 
among all transplant surgical procedures. The thousands who have had 
their sight restored by transplant know firsthand the importance of 
support for donor programs and the EBAA's role in promoting sight 
restoration education. The EBAA, through its member eye banks, provides 
programs to increase eye donations, expedite research and maintain 
high-quality medical services for the deliver of corneal transplant.
  Although donation of eyes for transplant and research has risen in 
recent years, many people are still waiting for the precious gift of 
sight which can only be achieved through donation. Their hopes rest 
with a public that is completely aware of the donation process. Great 
effort must be made to inform Americans that eyes are acceptable for 
donation, regardless of the donor's quality of vision.
  We in Congress can help educate the public about the need for eye 
donation and encourage more Americans to become donors. We have joined 
the EBAA every year since 1983, and so again by saluting their 
commemoration of March, 1994, as ``National Sight Conservation and Eye 
Donor Awareness Month.'' In so doing, we call on all Americans to 
support us in promoting the worthy endeavor of enhancing the lives of 
fellow citizens through restoration of sight.

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