IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 246 
Supporting the goals and ideals of World Glaucoma Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 3, 2010 
Ms. BALDWIN (for herself, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, and Mr. 
SESSIONS) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of World Glaucoma Day. 
Whereas World Glaucoma Day will be celebrated on March 
12, 2010; 
Whereas four percent of the global population, including in-
fants, children, and the elderly, are affected by glaucoma; 
Whereas glaucoma disproportionately affects underserved mi-
nority populations, with African-Americans having a 
three times greater risk of developing this disease than 
Whites, and it is the leading cause of irreversible vision 
loss in African-Americans and Hispanics; 
Whereas research shows that an estimated 60,500,000 people 
worldwide will be living with either angle closure glau-
coma or primary open angle glaucoma in 2010; 
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•HCON 246 IH 
Whereas awareness is absolutely crucial, as glaucoma often 
has no symptoms until vision loss occurs, and it is esti-
mated that, in the United States, more than half of glau-
coma cases remain undiagnosed, and 90 percent of glau-
coma cases are undiagnosed in developing countries; 
Whereas glaucoma is the second leading cause of preventable 
vision loss in the United States and it is the leading 
cause of permanent blindness worldwide; 
Whereas the World Health Organization estimates that there 
are currently 4,500,000 people who have been blinded 
due to glaucoma, and this number will rise to 11,200,000 
by 2020; 
Whereas early detection and treatment of glaucoma is essen-
tial to halting or slowing down the progression towards 
severe visual impairment or blindness; and 
Whereas World Glaucoma Day offers an opportunity to edu-
cate patients with glaucoma and those at risk for the dis-
ease that there are means for detecting and treating it 
to save sight, by raising awareness and providing helpful 
tips about the importance of regular screening, early di-
agnosis, and appropriate treatment: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That— 
(1) it is the sense of Congress that— 
(A) World Glaucoma Day provides a spe-
cial opportunity to educate the people of the 
United States about the dangers of glaucoma 
and to take steps to encourage regular 
screenings, early diagnosis, and appropriate 
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•HCON 246 IH 
treatment to prevent severe visual impairment 
or blindness; 
(B) it is appropriate to acknowledge that 
4,500,000 people have been blinded due to glau-
coma and regular screenings will reduce the 
number of undiagnosed cases and, in combina-
tion with appropriate treatment, prevent the 
number of those blinded by glaucoma from ris-
ing to 11,200,000 people in 2020; 
(C) the American Glaucoma Society should 
be recognized and applauded for its hard work 
in raising awareness of the need for regular 
screenings, early diagnosis, and proper treat-
ment of glaucoma and its efforts to decrease 
the incidences of undiagnosed and untreated 
glaucoma; 
(D) the National Eye Institute (NEI) 
should be recognized and applauded for its con-
tinuing dedication to researching causes of 
glaucoma; and 
(E) the Friends of the Congressional Glau-
coma Foundation should be recognized and ap-
plauded for screening over 300,000 people in 
the United States for glaucoma and other eye 
diseases; and 
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(2) Congress strongly recommends that national 
and community health organizations, colleges and 
universities, and the media— 
(A) promote, through education, awareness 
of the need for regular screenings and early di-
agnosis of glaucoma and strategies to decrease 
the undiagnosed and untreated cases; and 
(B) support the goals and ideals of World 
Glaucoma Day. 
Æ 
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