IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 780 
Expressing support for the goals of ‘‘World Sight Day’’ by promoting the 
importance of accessible, affordable, and inclusive eye care. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 11, 2023 
Mr. VEASEY (for himself, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. PAYNE, and Ms. SEWELL) 
submitted the following resolution 
OCTOBER 25, 2023 
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the goals of ‘‘World Sight Day’’ 
by promoting the importance of accessible, affordable, 
and inclusive eye care. 
Whereas people with vision problems are more likely than 
those with good vision to have diabetes, poor hearing, 
heart problems, high blood pressure, lower back pain, and 
strokes, as well as have increased risk for falls, injury, 
and depression; 
Whereas the majority of people with vision impairment and 
blindness are over the age of 50 years; 
Whereas the Lancet Global Health Commission estimates 
that the economic cost of blindness and moderate to se-
vere vision loss was $411,000,000,000 in 2020 (equiva-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:16 Nov 03, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR780.IH
HR780
dmwilson on DSKJM0X7X2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 780 IH 
lent to 0.3 percent of the world’s GDP in 2018), costing 
the most in east Asia ($90,000,000,000) and south Asia 
($70,000,000,000); 
Whereas the overall relative reduction in employment of peo-
ple with sight loss of working age is 30 percent; 
Whereas correcting vision improves educational outcomes, in-
creases personal earnings by 5 percent, increases produc-
tivity of the working poor by more than 20 percent, im-
proves literacy rates, decreases rates of early retirement, 
and results in safer drivers and roads; 
Whereas a slight vision impairment can reduce productivity 
in the workplace by 20 percent and accuracy by 40 per-
cent; 
Whereas 50 percent of blindness and low vision in children 
can be easily prevented or treated, most often with noth-
ing more than a pair of glasses; 
Whereas globally, at least 450,000,000 children have a sight 
condition that needs treatment, with 90,000,000 children 
living with some form of sight loss; 
Whereas children with vision loss are 2 to 5 times less likely 
to be in formal education in low- and middle-income 
countries; 
Whereas glasses are one of the most effective health interven-
tions for children, reducing the odds of failing a class by 
44 percent; and 
Whereas October 12 is recognized as ‘‘World Sight Day’’: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘World 
Sight Day’’; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:16 Nov 03, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR780.IH
HR780
dmwilson on DSKJM0X7X2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 780 IH 
(2) recognizes the importance of healthy vision; 
(3) encourages the people of the world to 
prioritize eye health; and 
(4) draws attention to the over 1,000,000,000 
people worldwide who have vision loss and do not 
have access to eye care services. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:16 Nov 03, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR780.IH
HR780
dmwilson on DSKJM0X7X2PROD with BILLS