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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 29, 2024 02:51 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative John A. Schlegel |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Retinal Blindness Awareness Month |
| Retinal blindness can be brought on by various retinal diseases, including Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). RP is a rare inherited group of eye diseases that cause progressive vision loss by damaging cells in the retina. Many patients with RP still have some usable vision, but it will continue to deteriorate if nothing is done to stop the degeneration. An estimated 100,000 people in the United States are affected by RP. Living without sight makes daily tasks many of us take for granted much more difficult. While a variety of resources and rehabilitative services exist to help manage vision loss, there is no single cure. Recent advancements in gene therapy have expanded treatment options for some forms of the condition, but for many individuals with RP, there are no approved therapies to prevent or reverse vision loss. It is imperative that we raise awareness of Retinitis Pigmentosa so that individuals with a family history seek early treatment to delay the progression of symptoms. As such, I will be introducing a resolution to recognize April 2024 as “Retinal Blindness Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania. Please join me supporting this effort to recognize those affected by retinal blindness. |
Introduced as HR349