[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 10, 2004)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 11487-11488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5579]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 47 / Wednesday, March 10, 2004 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 11487]]


                Proclamation 7762 of March 5, 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.

[[Page 11488]]

                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.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 04-5579
Filed 3-9-04; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P