31st Annual National Eye Donor Month
Floor Speech
Mr. SCHOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor March 2014 as the 31st annual National Eye Donor Month, a month dedicated to recognizing the need for eye donations as well as honoring eye donors, corneal recipients and their families.
Corneal diseases hamper an individual's ability to see properly. Over time, eye diseases lead to vision impairment or, in the most severe of cases, total blindness. Unfortunately, due to higher medical expenses and lost hours of workforce productivity, eye disorders rank as the fifth costliest type of diseases in the United States.
Thankfully, since 1961 corneal transplants conducted by the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) have allowed over one million people to regain their vision--a success rate of more than 95%! In 2012 alone, 46,684 corneal transplants were performed.
Of the 97 EBAA eye banks, two--the Illinois Eye Bank-Chicago and Illinois Eye Bank-Watson-Gailey in Bloomington--are located in my home state. Because of their hard work, 2,632 corneal donations were made in Illinois in 2012.
One such individual I was made aware of is Caleb. When Caleb was 5 he was injured in an accident that caused him to lose sight out of his right eye. After working with an ophthalmologist, Caleb was able to undergo a corneal transplant that removed the traumatic cataract and restored sight to Caleb's right eye. According to Caleb's mom, ``each new experience he encounters is special because someone had the courage to donate.''
I encourage all Americans to register to become eye donors. Everyone is a universal corneal donor--regardless of age or blood type. Once registered as a corneal donor, one should notify their family of their wishes.
I also urge my colleagues to work with their local eye banks in order to promote the importance of eye donation.
During National Eye Donor Month all Americans should remember the sacrifices made by corneal donors and their families while also celebrating the gifts their sacrifices made to thousands. Additionally, we should celebrate the work of the EBAA and its member banks as they continue to restore the sight of thousands more throughout the U.S.
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