DELAWARE STATE SENATE

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24

RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF MAY 2017 AS "HEALTHY VISION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, during Healthy Vision Month, the National Eye Institute (NEI) reminds individuals to prioritize eye health and protect their sight; and

WHEREAS, the annual cost of vision problems is $426 million in the state of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, more than 268,000 Delaware adults suffer from an eye disease or require glasses; and

WHEREAS, nearly 3 percent of children under the age of 18 years are blind or visually impaired in the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, children’s vision screening are recommended at birth; and

WHEREAS, only 43 percent of children under the age of 5 receive vision screenings in Delaware and even fewer receive an eye exam; and

WHEREAS, parents, teachers, and caregivers should monitor children carefully, and make an appointment with an eye physician at the first signs of vision problems; and

WHEREAS, regular dilated eye exams can detect eye disease and vision problems in the early stages when they are easiest to treat; and

WHEREAS, as many as 2 million children in America do not have the glasses they need; and

WHEREAS, children from families with lower incomes and children who lack health insurance are more likely to go without needed eyeglasses; and

WHEREAS, children with poor vision can have difficulty participating in class, suffer from low self-esteem, and receive low grades; and

WHEREAS, research has documented that receiving glasses increases students’ math and reading grades; and

WHEREAS, vision is 80 percent of our sensory connection to the world.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 149th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House concurring therein, that May 2017 is recognized as “Healthy Vision Month” in the State of Delaware and all citizens of Delaware are urged to recognize this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all citizens of Delaware are urged to receive periodic eye examinations.

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution recognizes the month of May 2017 as “Healthy Vision Month” in the State of Delaware.

Author: Senator Lawson