Save Your Vision Week, 2004

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.

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