Save Your Vision Week, 1997

Proclamation 6976 of March 3, 1997

Save Your Vision Week, 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.