IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1226 
Commending EyeCare America for its work over the last 25 years. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 25, 2010 
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas (for himself, Mr. WHITFIELD, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. 
SESSIONS, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. SCHRADER, Mr. NEAL of Massa-
chusetts, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. KENNEDY) submitted the following res-
olution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Commending EyeCare America for its work over the last 
25 years. 
Whereas American public opinion polls have consistently iden-
tified fear of loss of vision as second only to fear of can-
cer; 
Whereas in those public opinion polls Americans have said 
that loss of vision would have the greatest impact on 
their lives; 
Whereas the National Eye Institute estimates that more than 
11 million Americans have common vision problems; 
Whereas approximately 35 million Americans experience an 
age-related eye disease, such as age-related macular de-
generation (the leading cause of vision loss in older 
Americans), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or cataracts; 
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•HRES 1226 IH 
Whereas the number of Americans to experience an age-re-
lated eye disease is expected to increase to 50 million by 
2020; 
Whereas the Hispanic and African-American populations ex-
perience a disproportionate incidence of glaucoma, cata-
racts, and diabetic retinopathy, the latter being the lead-
ing cause of blindness in individuals of all races in the 
25 to 74 year-old age group; 
Whereas vision impairment and eye disease is a major public 
health issue; 
Whereas 2010 begins the decade in which more than half of 
the 78 million baby boomers will turn 65 and be at great-
est risk for aging eye disease; 
Whereas much can be done to preserve sight with early detec-
tion and treatment; 
Whereas EyeCare America, the public service program of the 
Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 
works to ensure that eye health is not neglected, by 
matching eligible patients with one of more than 7,000 
volunteer ophthalmologists across the county committed 
to preventing unnecessary blindness in their communities; 
Whereas these volunteer ophthalmologists provide eye exami-
nations and care for up to one year at no out-of-pocket 
cost to the patient, and seniors who are without insur-
ance receive this care at no charge; 
Whereas individuals throughout the United States may con-
tact EyeCare America to see if they are be eligible to be 
referred to a volunteer ophthalmologist; and 
Whereas EyeCare America has helped over 1 million people 
since its inception in 1985 and is the largest public serv-
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ice program of its kind in American medicine today: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives com-
mends EyeCare America for its work over the last 25 
years. 
Æ 
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