[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 118, 108th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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.

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118 STAT. 4112

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

PROCLAMATION 7763--MAR. 19, 2004