Florida Senate - 2015                             (NP)    SR 844
       
       
        
       By Senator Grimsley
       
       
       
       
       
       21-00556-15                                            2015844__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing August 2015 as “Amblyopia
    3         Awareness Month” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, amblyopia is a cause of permanent vision loss if
    6  not identified and treated early in life, and
    7         WHEREAS, the detection of amblyopia in early childhood
    8  increases the chances of successful treatment, especially if the
    9  disorder is detected before a child reaches 5 years of age, and
   10         WHEREAS, many forms of amblyopia are difficult to detect
   11  and can be identified only through proper screening techniques,
   12  and
   13         WHEREAS, the earlier children are identified as having
   14  amblyopia, the sooner treatment can commence, and
   15         WHEREAS, fewer than 20 percent of preschool children are
   16  currently being screened for vision problems, despite the fact
   17  that such screening is a covered service by many health
   18  insurance plans and health maintenance organizations, and
   19         WHEREAS, parents should be encouraged to have their
   20  children screened for vision problems prior to admission to
   21  preschool, and
   22         WHEREAS, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology and a number
   23  of statewide associations, charitable organizations, state
   24  agencies, and local public health departments believe that it is
   25  of paramount importance to promote statewide preschool vision
   26  screening, with the goal of testing all children between 3 and 5
   27  years of age, NOW, THEREFORE,
   28  
   29  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   30  
   31         That August 2015 is recognized as “Amblyopia Awareness
   32  Month” in Florida.