Jimmy Carter

“ IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred seventy-seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and first. ”

“ Despite our advances, millions of Americans fail to take advantage of the sophisticated vision care services available to them. Many older Americans accept poor vision as part of growing old. Millions of middle-aged Americans regard admitting a need for vision care as admitting to a loss of youth. Young people often foolishly believe their good vision will remain without care. Children are sometimes assumed to have no vision problems because they can read an eye chart when in fact they may be unable to see the printed page. ”

“ I call upon the vision care professions, the communications media, educators, and all public and private organizations which support sight conservation and vision research to join in activities to improve and protect the vision of all Americans. ”