PROCLAMATION 5939—MAR. 1, 1989 103 STAT. 2993 NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America and Honorary Chairman of the American National Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws oftilieUnited States, do hereby proclaim the month of March 1989 as Americcin Red Cross Month. I urge all Americans to continue their generous support and ready assistance to the work of the American Red Cross and its nearly 3,000 Chapters and stations on military instal- lations. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty- eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirteenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 5939 of March 1, 1989 Save Your Vision Week, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Vision is a precious gift—one we too often take for granted until it is impaired or lost entirely. For thousands of Americans, this is a need- less loss because sight-saving treatments are now available for many disorders that once caused blindness. Generally, the earlier a disease is detected, the better the chcince of interrupting its destructive process. Therefore, if we take some simple precautions, most of us can expect to enjoy good vision all of our lives. A periodic examination by an eye-care professional is the best way to detect an eye problem before it impairs or destroys vision. This is espe- cially important for yoimg children; diabetics, who are at increased risk for several eye diseases; and older Americans, who are at higher risk for glaucoma, aging-related retinal degeneration, and cataracts. Because visual problems in young children are often difficult to detect, a professional eye examination is vital. An untreated eye problem in a child may needlessly interfere with learning or play or lead to perma- nent visual loss. At a minimum, children should have their vision checked by their pediatrician, family physician, or an eye specialist at or before age four. For the more than 11 million Americans who have diabetes, regular eye checkups are especially important for preventing loss of vision. For years, diabetic retinopathy has been the leading cause of new cases of blindness among middle-aged Americans. Now, however, improved treatments for this disease can save many thousands from blindness— if treatment is begim early. Because many aging-related eye diseases begin in the middle years, periodic eye examinations are important |or everyone older than 40. For example, glaucoma can begin unnoticed in middle age and gradual- ly progress to blindness. A simple, painless test to measure pressure within the eye is used to screen for possible glaucoma. If the disease is
�
