Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Lawson on behalf of all Senators & Rep. Heffernan on behalf of all Representatives

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 64

RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF MAY 2018 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, vision impairment and eye disease costs the United States $68 billion annually in direct healthcare costs, lost productivity, and diminished quality of life; and

WHEREAS, there are over 250,000 reported vision problems for Delawareans over the age of forty; and

WHEREAS, as of 2015, there were 219,543 girls and 235,919 boys under the age of eighteen that have vision difficulty in the United States; and

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

WHEREAS, only an approximate forty percent of children age five years and younger receive vision screenings; 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, 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 2018 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.