123STA T . 3 6 1 4PROCL A M AT I O N8 348 —FEB .2 7, 2 0 0 9cludesinformat ion on h ome foreclosure , identit y theft, and p rotectin gb usinesses .W or k ing together, consumers, businesses, and G o v ernment can strengthen our robust free market for the benefit of all A mericans. NO W, THER E F ORE, I , B ARA CK OBA M A, P resident of the U nited S tates of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con - stitution and la w s of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 1 through March 7 , 20 0 9 , as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon Government officials, industry leaders, and advocates across the Nation to provide our citi z ens with information about consumer rights, and I encourage all Americans to take a proactive role in strengthening our economy. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sev- enth day of February, in the year of our L ord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. BARACK OBAMA Proclam a ti o n834 8o fFeb r u ar y27, 2 0 0 9SaveYourVis io nW ee k,20 0 9BythePr e sid e n t of the U nited S t a tes of Am eri c a A Proc l amation Blindness and visual impairment affect millions of Americans. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are critical to minimize vision loss from eye diseases as well as vision loss that is correctable with eye glasses or contact lenses. D uring Save Y our V ision Week, I encourage all Americans to take action to protect their vision. Unfortunately, most people have limited knowledge of blinding eye disorders. In a 200 5 study by the National Eye Institute, part of the Na- tional Institutes of Health, only eight percent of respondents knew that glaucoma, a condition that can damage the optic nerve and cause vi- sion loss and blindness, strikes without early warning. Similarly, only 11 percent knew that diabetic eye disease also begins as a silent vision threat. Several demographic groups are at higher risk for visual impairment, including teenagers, diabetics, Hispanics, African Americans, and the economically disadvantaged. Older Americans are more susceptible to eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic ret- inopathy, and glaucoma. Children need regular vision screenings be- cause vision disorders left untreated during childhood can lead to per- manent visual impairment during adulthood. Still, eye disease knows no bounds, and every American should take steps to protect his or her eyesight. Doctors recommend seeking routine eye e x aminations, maintaining a healthy diet, wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays, and using protective eyewear in hazardous environments. The National Eye Institute ’ s website, www.nei.nih.gov, provides resources for learning more about common vision conditions and information on finding an eye health
