[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 10 (Monday, March 10, 2003)]
[Pages 267-268]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7652--Save Your Vision Week, 2003

 February 28, 2003

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    Each year, the number of Americans who suffer from vision loss 
increases, yet half of all blindness can be prevented through early 
detection and treatment. During Save Your Vision Week, we renew our 
commitment to protecting eyesight by promoting healthy eye care and by 
encouraging Americans to receive routine vision screenings and dilated 
eye exams.
    Our sense of sight affects how we work, communicate, and learn. All 
Americans must be aware of the risk of vision loss and take steps to 
preserve and protect their eyesight, beginning with getting regular eye 
exams, using the appropriate protective eyewear, and maintaining a 
healthy lifestyle. These small steps can make a big difference. When 
Americans take responsibility for improving their health, our whole 
society benefits.
    Healthy vision is especially critical to our children's ability to 
receive a good education and establish a strong foundation in life. 
According to the American Optometric Association, 80 percent of learning 
depends on vision, yet 86 percent of children entering school have not 
had a thorough eye examination. Due to hereditary and prenatal factors, 
from a very early age, many children are at high risk for potentially 
severe eye diseases, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), 
amblyopia, and congenital glaucoma. One in four kids will develop myopia 
as teenagers. Children need regular eye care from birth to prevent and 
treat conditions that lead to visual impairment and blindness. Parents 
play a key role in obtaining eye care for their children and must be 
knowledgeable about the potential threats to a child's eyesight. For the 
future of our Nation, it is vital that we care for the visual health and 
well-being of America's children so they are able to reach their full 
potential.
    As part of my HealthierUS Initiative and my Administration's ongoing 
commitment to helping the American people live healthier lives, I 
encourage all Americans to get preventative health screenings. These 
screenings may tell you if you are prone to developing certain diseases, 
can help protect your vision, and could even save your life. I 
particularly urge parents to ask their children's doctors about vision 
screenings and eye exams, which can help ensure eye diseases and 
conditions are detected and treated early, when treatment is most 
effective. Through education about healthy vision and promotion of good 
eye care, we help protect the eyesight of countless people across our 
Nation.
    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 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 2 through March 8, 2003, as Save 
Your Vision Week. I urge all Americans to make eye care and eye safety 
an important part of their lives and to include dilated eye examinations 
in their regular health maintenance programs. I invite 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 measures all Americans can take to protect 
and sustain our vision.
     In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth 
day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-
seventh.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 9:12 a.m., March 4, 
2003]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on March 
5. This item was not received in time for publication in the appropriate 
issue.

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