WHEREAS, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, most people rank sight as the most important of their senses with as many as 70 percent of Americans saying they would miss eyesight more than any other sense; and,

WHEREAS, nearly 37 million Americans over the age of 40 suffer from potentially blinding eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy; and,

WHEREAS, nearly 2.4 million eye injuries occur in the United States every year; and,

WHEREAS, ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in medical and surgical treatment of eye conditions and comprehensive  vision care; and.

WHEREAS, the Illinois Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons was established on July 22, 1970, by 16 pioneering ophthalmologists who saw a benefit in organizing the profession in Illinois for the purposes  of education, research, and advocating for improvements in quality care and safety of patients, and now represents the aspirations of more than 700 ophthalmologists practicing in the state, as well as 100 residents and fellows who are training in Illinois; and,

WHEREAS, the annual educational conference of the Illinois Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, in partnership with the Chicago Ophthalmological Society, is one of the largest state conferences in the nation, while the ISEPS Global Ophthalmology Foundation was recently established to support charitable projects for those in need of eye care here in Illinois and abroad;

THEREFORE, I, JB Pritzker, Governor of the State of Illinois, do hereby recognize the Illinois Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons for its 50 years of service and congratulate all ophthalmologists in Illinois for their work every day to preserve the vision and eye health of Illinois residents.