Washington, DC - Congressman Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn) was honored by the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation for his tireless work to promote glaucoma awareness.  The Foundation presented Towns with an Eye Care for You Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. as the group unveiled its new mobile screening unit for eye testing.

"While I am certainly pleased to receive such a meaningful award, I am even more excited about the new screening unit," said Towns.  "This vehicle will be travel across the east coast to provide preventive screenings for many people who would other wise not have their eyes tested."

Glaucoma, which affects about 3 million Americans, is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve and can lead to blindness.  With no readily apparent symptoms, half of all affected Americans do not realize that they have glaucoma until the disease starts to gradually steal their sight.  As a founding member of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus, Towns has held numerous free eye screenings in his Brooklyn district.

"By detecting this disease early, glaucoma can be managed and people can retain their eye sight," said Towns.  "Free screenings especially help those who may not have health insurance or can not make it to see their doctor."

Towns noted that free screenings are vital to the minority community as African and Hispanic-Americans are five to seven times more likely to develop glaucoma. 

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