Provide Valuable Resources to Your Inherited Retinal Disease Patients
The Foundation Fighting Blindness can help eye care professionals provide knowledge, community, and hope for patients with a retinal degenerative disease and their loved ones.
Checklist for creating a path forward:
- CONNECT your patient with the Foundation Fighting Blindness and refer them to a local Foundation Chapter to provid them with a network of other patients, educational opportunities and connect with a Peer Guide.
- OFFER them no-cost genetic testing and genetic counseling (for patients with an inherited retinal disease).
- RECOMMEND they participate in the My Retina Tracker Registry to learn more about ongoing research and clinicial trials.
- REFER your patient to a retinal specialist.
- SUGGEST local low vision and rehabilitation services.
- INFORM patients that there are dozens of clinical trials underway for emerging therapies.
Resources for eye care professionals:
- My Retina Tracker Program
- No-Cost Genetic Testing and Counseling
- My Retina Tracker Registry is a research database of people and families affected by rare inherited retinal degenerative diseases (IRD).
- Educational materials
- Educational webinars
- Continuing Medical Education (CME) courses
- Monthly Eye Care Professional Newsletter – sign-up by emailing po@fightingblindness.org
- Check out the clinical trial pipeline to see the more than 40 trials currently underway.
Resources for your patients with a retinal degenerative disease:
- Information for newly diagnosed patients and their loved ones
- Patient educational resources and literature
- Foundation Chapters
- Low vision and rehabilitation services
- Find a retina doctor
- Mental Health Resource Center for the blind and low vision community.
Information for professional outreach volunteers:
- Session 1: Overview of Professional Outreach
- Educational materials
- Become a professional outreach volunteer by emailing po@fightingblindness.org
- Refer your eye care provider – submit the provider name, clinic, location, email (optional) to po@fightingblindness.org
As an eye care professional, you can provide knowledge, community and hope for your patients with a blinding retinal disease and the Foundation Fighting Blindness can help.
Eye Care Professional Partners
Future Leaders in Sight (FLIS) – FLIS is a student-led national organization focused on raising awareness of legislation affecting vision care, connecting medical students with leaders in ophthalmology, and supporting legislation for the benefit of patients. Find more information at their website and social media channels (Twitter/X and Instagram) to get involved at any level of training or practice.
Contact our professional outreach team for more information:
Michelle Glaze
Director, Professional Outreach
MGlaze@FightingBlindess.org
251-654-9758
