Health officials have identified the most significant and preventable threats to vision. According to the Department of Health and Human Service 's Healthy People 2010 report, visual impairment represents one of our country's 10 most frequent causes of disability. 

To help avoid or remedy vision problems, we must remain dedicated to the prevention of eye injuries, emphasize early detection of eye disease, work to research and develop new treatments and rehabilitation therapies, and promote vision health awareness. All Americans should take steps to ensure that eye health becomes a priority in our homes, businesses, and communities. We should commit to receiving regular dilated eye examinations; we should wear protective eyewear when necessary, both recreationally and on the job; and we must make every effort to ensure children age 5 and under receive vision screening.

The Congress, by joint resolution approved December 30, 1963, as amended (77 Stat. 629; 36 U.S.C. 138), has authorized and requested the President to proclaim the first week in March of each year as "Save Your Vision Week." During this year's observance, let us renew our commitment to fighting the causes of visual impairment and to supporting good eye health. I encourage all Americans to learn more about ways to prevent eye problems and to help others maintain the invaluable asset of eyesight. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 3 through March 9, 2002, as Save Your Vision Week. I urge all Americans to make eye care and eye safety an important part of their lives and to include dilated eye examinations in their regular health maintenance programs. I invite eye care professionals, the media, and all public and private organizations dedicated to preserving eyesight to join in activities that will raise awareness of measures we can take to protect and sustain our vision. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth. 

In all adults with insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetes and almost half of those with non-insulin-dependent (Type II, commonly called adult-onset) diabetes, the function of both the kidneys and the capillaries in the eye are inhibited.  Although the exact reasons for these problems are still being studied, it is thought that increased blood pressure and changes in blood sugar levels carry most of the blame.  High blood pressure eventually thickens the blood vessel walls and slows blood flow, which leads to both vision loss and kidney failure.  As the kidneys stop filtering blood, blood sugar levels become even more volatile, causing further decreases in the elasticity of the eye lens. 

Half of all diabetics that suffer kidney failure have also lost some or all of their vision.  If a diabetic with kidney failure receives a kidney transplant, the patient can usually maintain the existing level of vision prior to the transplant operation.  A diabetic on dialysis needs to strictly monitor blood pressure and blood sugar levels to guard against blurred vision or blindness. 

Overall, for adults with diabetes, good care for the kidneys - by maintaining blood pressure levels, carefully watching blood sugar levels and increasing liquid intake - can also offer the best protection for long-term vision. 

The Save Your Vision Month program focuses on reminding Americans of the role good eyesight plays in enjoying life, and the importance of regular eye exams. 

Part of the program--The Great American Eye Test-- was developed as a tool in determining when exams are needed. It asks a series of "yes" or "no" questions about one's current eyesight. A separate test exists for different groups: children, women, baby-boomers, and for adults over age 50. 

Ways to increase your chances of having a lifetime of good vision include:

• Schedule regular eye examinations, regardless of your age or health. Many eye problems can be prevented or reversed if detected early enough. At this visit, your eye care provider can thoroughly examine your eyes and discuss any recent changes in your vision. 
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes foods that are rich in antioxidants. 
• Wear protective eyewear when playing sports or when doing any activity in which objects may be hurled toward your eye, such as mowing the lawn. 
• Wear sunglasses that block out ultraviolet light when you are in the sun. 
• If you are diabetic, take all your medications and follow your physician’s dietary advice. 
• If you stare at a computer for long periods of time, take regular breaks to minimize fatigue. 
• Discuss any family history of blindness with your eye care provider. Many eye diseases are hereditary and physicians can be on the alert for certain conditions if they know you are at greater risk of developing them. 
• Do not smoke and avoid subjecting your eyes to second-hand smoke, exhaust fumes or other polluted air. 

New research, coordinated by the National Institutes of Health, found that foods rich in vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin may prevent cataracts and macular degeneration, the most common causes of blindness in people over 50.

This study is one of many that point to the benefits of consuming more plant foods to help prevent diseases. Eat more spinach, broccoli, orange juice, green pepper, cantaloupe, kiwi and potatoes all year round and help save your vision.

Computer eyestrain is real. "More PC users suffer vision woes than wrist injuries. Millions of Americans suffer from computer-related eye problems that generate $1.15 billion in medical costs each year. The American Optometric Association say that 12 million Americans visit eye doctors each year because of computer-related problems or one out of every five who come in for an eye examination." 

The symptoms of eyestrain can include: headaches, dry eyes, blurred or double vision, aching eyes, difficulty in changing focus from near to far, and/or having difficulty seeing when driving at night. Some common causes include: glare, inadequate static vision and poor dynamic vision. 

With the proper eye exam, the optometrist can prescribe special glasses with a different power from your regular glasses. These would be used only for working in front of your computer. If you wear contacts, you would wear these glasses on over your contacts! 

If you suspect that you might have eye problems, or you work at the computer more than an hour a day (duh) then the Prevent Blindness Organization is happy to send you literature about computer related eye problems.