[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 99 (Tuesday, June 24, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1063]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL SUNGLASS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 24, 2014

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Sunglass 
Day and to honor the sunglass manufacturers and suppliers throughout my 
Dallas Congressional District, the State of Texas and around the 
country. Texas and the Dallas area are home to a variety of optical 
industry leaders including 24 optical laboratories that manufacture 
prescription sun wear, 3 lens manufacturers that supply UV filtering 
lenses, and 6 sun wear frame suppliers. As a physician, I commend the 
sunglass industry and their trade association The Vision Council (TVC) 
for ongoing outreach campaigns to educate consumers regarding the 
damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays to the eye and healthy 
vision.
  In the case of eye protection, what you don't know can hurt you. When 
it comes to the human eye and the sun's rays, it's what we can't see 
that matters most. UV radiation that reaches the earth's surface, made 
up of two types of invisible rays, UVA and UVB, endangers an 
unprotected eye. The effects of long-term exposure can include 
cataracts, macular degeneration, abnormal growths on the eye's surface 
and even cancer of the eye. While everyone should shield their eyes 
from UV rays, certain risk factors like age and eye color increase an 
individual's vulnerability to UV related eye disorders. Where you live 
and travel can also make a big difference in the level of UV exposure. 
Since UV damage can't be reversed, prevention through protection is 
key.
  Later this summer, sunglass manufacturers and distributors from my 
home district in Texas and The Vision Council (TVC) will be convening a 
Capitol Hill briefing on the topic of UV danger and protecting your eye 
health. I encourage my colleagues to attend and applaud the sunglass 
community and The Vision Council for their leadership in promoting 
healthy vision.