WHEREAS, Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that gradually steal sight without warning through damage to the optic nerve for which there is no cure; although once diagnosed, medication or laser surgery can slow or prevent further vision loss; and
WHEREAS, Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness according to the World Health Organization, with over 60 million suspected cases worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Over 2.2 million Americans have Glaucoma, but half of those don't even know they have it; and more than 120,000 Americans are blind due to Glaucoma; and
WHEREAS, Those most at risk of Glaucoma are those of African, Asian and Hispanic descent, people over 60, family members of those already diagnosed, diabetics and people who are severely near-sighted; and
WHEREAS, After cataracts, Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African Americans, with blindness from Glaucoma six to eight times more common in African Americans than Caucasians and with African Americans 15 times more likely to be visually impaired from Glaucoma than Caucasians; and
WHEREAS, The Glaucoma Service Foundation's mission is to preserve or enhance the health of all people with Glaucoma and to provide a model of medical care by supporting the innovative educational and research efforts of the physicians and staff on the Wills Eye Hospital Glaucoma Service and Glaucoma Research Center, the largest Glaucoma diagnosis and treatment center in the United States; and
WHEREAS, On April 26th of 2014, Glaucoma Screening and Information Day, the Glaucoma Service Foundation will hold its important annual day-long, patient-directed educational conference about Glaucoma at the Dorrance H. Hamilton Building at Thomas Jefferson University, 1001 Locust Street, in Philadelphia, called the CARES Conference where CARES stands for Committed to Awareness through Research, Education, and Support; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia, hereby recognizes March 9th to March 15th of 2014 as Glaucoma Awareness Week in the City Of Philadelphia.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Glaucoma Service Foundation located at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, as evidence of the respect and admiration of this legislative body for those who work to prevent blindness and who serve those who suffer from Glaucoma.
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