Senate Resolution No. 1002

BY: Senator RIVERA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
November 14-20, 2021, as Thyroid Eye Disease
Awareness Week in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 14-20, 2021,
as Thyroid Eye Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Thyroid Eye Disease
Awareness Week; and

WHEREAS, The National Institute of Health defines a rare disease as
a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States;
currently there are approximately 7,000 rare diseases impacting almost
30 million Americans; and

WHEREAS, Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is a serious, progressive and
rare autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly
attacks healthy muscle and fat tissue behind the eye, causing
inflammation and scar tissue to form; and

WHEREAS, People living with TED often have debilitating symptoms of
eye bulging, double vision, blurred vision, pain and facial
disfigurement and, in severe cases, it can lead to blindness; and

WHEREAS, People living with TED often experience long-term impact on
functional, psychosocial and economic burdens, including the inability
to work or perform activities of daily living; and

WHEREAS, The exact underlying process by which TED occurs is not
fully understood and TED is a serious, vision threatening condition that
can get worse over time; and

WHEREAS, TED is a rare disease and is estimated to have a prevalence
16 per 100,000 women in the general population, and 2.9 per 100,000 men
in the general population; and

WHEREAS, A diagnosis of TED is based upon identification of
characteristic symptoms, a detailed patient history, a thorough clinical
evaluation and a variety of specialized tests; and

WHEREAS, There is a genetic component to the condition and people
who have a family member with the disease or a family member with an
autoimmune disease are at a greater risk of developing the condition;
and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 14-20, 2021,
as Thyroid Eye Disease Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association; and New York
Biotechnology Association and Prevent Blindness.