Published: 04-23-08
Recognizes Inaugural World Glaucoma Day Supports Research for Treatments
Washington DC – U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) today joined Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in securing House approval for H. Res. 981 a resolution recognizing March 6 2008 as the first ever World Glaucoma Day. This official designation has been established to increase awareness of glaucoma—the second leading cause of preventable blindness in the United States and around the world.
“I am pleased to join my colleague Congresswoman Baldwin in highlighting the importance of glaucoma awareness initiatives and medical research” stated Sessions. “Thanks to the support of over 100 Members of Congress as cosponsors and the extensive grassroots efforts of numerous eye disease prevention advocates today’s World Glaucoma Day resolution marks another important step in glaucoma awareness.”
Glaucoma is a progressive disease that damages the optic nerve and leads to vision loss robbing individuals of both peripheral and central vision. Worldwide an estimated 67 million people are afflicted with glaucoma including over 2.2 million Americans. Additionally an estimated additional two million Americans do not know they have the disease because symptoms often remain undetected until vision loss occurs.
Although glaucoma can affect all age groups every American over the age 60 is at risk of developing glaucoma with even higher risk factors noted for African Americans and Latinos. If left untreated glaucoma can lead to blindness which has occurred in over 4.5 million people globally including in over 120000 Americans.
Currently no cure exists for glaucoma and vision loss is mostly irreversible. However research indicates that diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma can avoid blindness in 90 percent of the cases. If detected early disease progression often can be stopped or slowed with eye drops or surgery according to the National Eye Institute.
“Awareness is critical to ensuring that individuals with known risk factors for glaucoma or with a family history of the disease understand the importance of having regular comprehensive eye examinations” Sessions said.
In February Session and Baldwin introduced the resolution (H. RES. 981) recognizing the inaugural World Glaucoma Day congratulating the American Glaucoma Society for its awareness and advocacy efforts and supporting the efforts of the National Eye Institute (NEI) within the National Institutes of Health.
The NEI currently supports 244 research studies spending $60 million annually to discover diagnosis and treatment solutions. Research includes genetic and environmental risk factors glaucoma prevention the relationships between damage to the optic nerve and vision loss societal and individual impacts diagnostics and treatment to preserve or restore sight.
“World Glaucoma Day is one of the many efforts to increase awareness for the importance of eye health” continued Sessions. “Delivering the important message of glaucoma detection and treatment is critical to saving the vision of millions of people.”
“In the coming months I look forward to continuing to work with Congresswoman Baldwin and other colleagues to increase bipartisan support for glaucoma awareness and research funding” Sessions concluded.
