SJ0057 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0057 LRB094 17341 HSS 53987 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Glaucoma affects more than 2.2 million Americans age 40 and older, including nearly 100,000 individuals in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Glaucoma is indicative of tragic health disparities, affecting African Americans six to eight times more frequently than Caucasians; and

WHEREAS, Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness for African Americans, with elder African Americans 14 to 16 times more likely to go blind from glaucoma than their Caucasian counterparts; and

WHEREAS, Latinos and women are also disproportionately affected by glaucoma in younger age groups than other populations; and

WHEREAS, Glaucoma affects increasing numbers of older people across all races and ethnicities, reducing the quality of life for people in their golden years; and

WHEREAS, Glaucoma causes people to lose their peripheral sight, oftentimes without the individual knowing it, and consequently only half of all people with glaucoma are aware of their condition; and

WHEREAS, Because of the furtive nature of how glaucoma progresses, it is commonly called the "Sneak Thief of Sight"; and

WHEREAS, Most cases of glaucoma can be controlled and vision loss can be slowed or halted when identified and treated; and

WHEREAS, When glaucoma is undetected, lost sight cannot be restored; and

WHEREAS, Glaucoma runs in the family, yet few people know to have regular dilated eye examinations if they are at higher risk via their family history; and

WHEREAS, Prevent Blindness America, the nation's leading voluntary health organization dedicated to saving sight and preventing blindness, in partnership with the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness, seeks to educate the citizens of Illinois at large, and especially people in communities of higher risk, about the dangers of glaucoma and the importance of regular eye examinations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we join with Prevent Blindness America and the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness in recognizing January as Glaucoma Awareness Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Prevent Blindness America and the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness.