Blindness Prevention and Services Month

Whereas, More than 20 million Americans report experiencing significant vision loss, including approximately 6.2 million seniors 65 years of age and older and approximately 9 million Americans 45 to 64 years of age; and,

Whereas, The leading causes of blindness are age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts; and,

 Whereas, A routine eye examination is key for early diagnosis and treatment, which can prevent blindness and vision loss as a result of sight-threatening eye diseases; and,

Whereas, People who are blind or visually impaired can achieve excellence in all that they choose to do if they have the necessary services and training; and,

Whereas, The Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons is a professional organization whose mission is to ensure quality medical eye care and to raise awareness of potentially blinding eye diseases; and,

Whereas, Eye doctors who have patients who are legally blind are encourage to refer these individuals to the Michigan Commission for the Blind that provides training and other services to help blind and visually impaired individuals achieve independence as well as employment; and,

Whereas, Leader Dogs for the Blind works to help educate the community and employers about blindness and offers work rehabilitation and special programs, including Trekker Training (GPS), to enhance the lives of blind and visually impaired individuals and is the only leader dog school in the country that offers a deaf/blind program; and,

Whereas, These and other organizations are working together to increase public knowledge of causes of blindness that are often preventable, and that blind and visually impaired people can lead independent and productive lives with the training and services available;

Now, Therefore, be it Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby proclaim April 2009 Blindness Prevention and Services Month in Michigan. I ask that all citizens recognize the importance of a routine eye examination to ensure long-term health of their eyes and to help the support programs that educate the community about blindness.