[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 10 (Monday, March 10, 1997)]
[Page 276]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 6976--Save Your Vision Week, 1997

March 3, 1997

By the President of the United States

of America

A Proclamation

    Our eyes are our windows to the world. They give us the freedom to 
gaze at a sunset, read a book, or drive a car. Our sight allows us to 
jog along a garden pathway or enjoy a panoramic view.
    All of us need to care for our vision, but older Americans in 
particular should be aware of their susceptibility to eye disease. As 
the ``baby boom'' generation ages, it is critical that these Americans 
receive regular eye examinations from eye-care professionals.
    A thorough exam can lead to early detection and control or cure of 
eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and diabetic retinopathy. A 
professional eye exam can also diagnose age-related macular degeneration 
(AMD), a leading cause of severe visual impairment and blindness in the 
United States. This common disease affects the retina, the part of the 
eye that helps to produce sharp, central vision required for activities 
such as reading and driving. AMD causes a loss of this clear, central 
vision; in some cases, vision loss is rapid and dramatic. The risk of 
AMD dramatically increases after age 60. It is estimated that this 
disease already causes visual impairment in approximately 1.7 million of 
the 34 million Americans now older than 65. As these numbers continue to 
grow, researchers are working to find the cause of, and develop 
treatment for, this debilitating disease.
    People with AMD and its accompanying visual impairment often cannot 
perform daily activities such as reading the newspaper, preparing meals, 
or recognizing faces of friends. The inability to see well affects 
routine activities and social interactions and can lead to a loss of 
independence.
    However, low-vision services and devices can greatly improve the 
quality of life for visually impaired patients and help them maintain 
their independence. Devices such as hand-held magnifiers, computer 
monitors with large type, and large-print newspapers and books can help 
the visually impaired dramatically improve their quality of life.
    To remind Americans of the importance of protecting their eyesight, 
the Congress, by joint resolution approved December 30, 1963 (77 Stat. 
629; 36 U.S.C. 169a), has authorized and requested the President to 
proclaim the first week in March of each year as ``Save Your Vision 
Week.''
    Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby proclaim March 2 through March 8, 1997, as 
Save Your Vision Week. Our eyes play a vital role in our independence 
and daily living and need to be examined regularly. Let us recognize the 
work done by vision researchers across our Nation on AMD and other eye 
diseases and the efforts they are making to enhance and retain our 
precious sight. Education on good vision starts with us, and we should 
take progressive steps to protect our eyes.
    In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of 
March, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-seven, and of 
the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
twenty-first.
                                            William J. Clinton

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., March 4, 
1997]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on March 
5.