In honor of World Mental Health Day, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which is at the forefront of the global effort to find cures and treatments for blinding diseases, is announcing a free webinar for eye care professionals that emphasizes the vital role that mental health support plays in helping patients with retinal degenerative diseases.
“Seeing Beyond Vision Loss: A Focus on Mental Health Resources for Patients with Retinal Disease,” a one-hour session, will examine the psychological effects of progressive vision loss and the significance of a comprehensive care model that incorporates mental health resources, low vision rehabilitation, and ophthalmic treatment.
“Vision loss is not just a medical challenge—it’s an emotional and psychological one,” stated Michelle Glaze, director of professional outreach, Foundation Fighting Blindness. “Announcing this program on World Mental Health Day brings home the value of equipping eye care professionals with the tools and resources to support patients’ resilience, reduce isolation, and improve quality of life.”
A clinician’s summary of holistic approaches to care, a patient’s viewpoint, and a psychologist’s thoughts on counseling and resources will all be covered in the webinar. The presentations will be followed by a live Q&A.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 7:00–8:00 p.m. ET
Highlighted Speakers
To emphasize the importance of a comprehensive approach to care, the program will bring together the viewpoints of a clinical psychologist, a retina specialist, and a patient advocate:
Jessie Wolinsky is a podcaster, disability advocate, and Sight Club co-founder. She talks about her experience of grieving, accepting, and advocating for others who are blind after receiving a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa at the age of seven. She raises awareness about disability and vision loss by hosting the podcast “Badass Blind Babe” and interacting with over 44,000 followers on TikTok under the handle @BadassBlindBabe.
Sandeep Grover, MD, is an Associate Chair and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida, Jacksonville. He directs the Inherited Retinal Diseases and Electrophysiology service, with research focused on disease progression and the psychosocial effects of vision loss. He is a longtime partner of the Foundation Fighting Blindness and has written more than 150 articles.
Board-certified clinical psychologist Ann Wagner, PhD, LP, ABPP, spent 26 years on the Minneapolis VA Health Care System’s PTSD Clinical Team. She is now a sought-after speaker and consultant on grieving, resiliency, and the psychological effects of vision loss because she is blind from retinitis pigmentosa.
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