By: Blanco S.R. No. 527
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Coats' Disease Awareness Day is taking place on
August 17, 2023, and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity
to promote better understanding of this health issue; and
WHEREAS, Coats' disease is a rare retinal disorder that
primarily affects male infants, young children, and teenagers as
well as a smaller number of adults; the disease causes blood
vessels in one or both eyes to develop abnormally, resulting in
the leakage of fluid into the back of the eye and can lead to
vision loss; early signs and symptoms of the condition may
include eye turning outward or inward, loss of depth perception,
and sometimes a yellow reflex from the pupil behind the lens of
the eye; over time, the disorder may lead to retinal
detachment, blindness, and the loss of the eye; and
WHEREAS, The disease is classified as an orphan disease,
or one that affects a relatively small number of individuals;
however, thousands of people across Texas and the United States
have been diagnosed with the condition, and many others have
received a misdiagnosis; the cause of the disease is unknown, and
early detection and intervention can dramatically improve
outcomes; depending on the severity of the disorder, health care
professionals may recommend treatments such as cryotherapy,
laser surgery, or the removal of the affected eye; and
WHEREAS, Across the Lone Star State, government officials,
medical professionals, academic institutions, and members of the
general public are taking action to raise awareness of Coats'
disease, to call attention to the need for more research, and to
highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment so that
an individual's vision may be saved; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature
hereby recognize August 17, 2023, as Coats' Disease Awareness Day
and urge all Texans to learn more about the disorder.