Declaring March as "Save Your Vision Month."

WHEREAS, "Save Your Vision Month" is a national event sponsored every March by the American Optometric Association; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania College of Optometry is celebrating "Save Your Vision Month" with a vision health public awareness campaign with the theme "Bringing Low Vision into Focus;" and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania College of Optometry is co-sponsoring "Save Your Vision Month" with the Police Athletic League, the Free Library of Philadelphia, local schools and community organizations; and

WHEREAS, The official 2000 "Save Your Vision" campaign kick-off in City Council will launch a series of free vision screenings at PAL Centers, Regional Library Branches, Senior Citizen Centers and residential complexes; and

WHEREAS, The College of Optometry hopes that the public awareness campaign will encourage families to develop a greater understanding of the important role vision plays in the entire family by "Bring Low Vision into Focus;" and

WHEREAS, The majority of individuals who experience low vision which can interfere with normal daily functioning are the elderly; and

WHEREAS, Many diseases and conditions, such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes and nerve degeneration, can cause low vision; and

WHEREAS, Personalized consultations are available for patients with visual impairments to make the best use of their sight as well as maintain or improve their quality of life, through the William Feinbloom Vision Rehabilitation Center at the Eye Institute of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania College of Optometry is also participating in Vision USA, a national effort to provide free eye examinations for working persons with no health insurance, who have not had an eye examination in the last twelve months; therefore

RESOLVED THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA declares and celebrates March as "Save Your Vision Month" and encourages "Bringing Low Vision into Focus."

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, the Police Athletic League, the Free Library of Philadelphia, local schools and community organizations, as a sincere expression of the Council's gratitude, appreciation and commendation for sponsoring and organizing free vision screening throughout Philadelphia during "Save Your Vision Month – 2000".

End