SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 527 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 State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby recognize August 17, 2023, as Coats' Disease Awareness Day and urge all Texans to learn more about the disorder. Blanco ________________________________ President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 9, 2023. ________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ________________________________ Member, Texas Senate