Foundation Fighting Blindness Marks World Mental Health Day with Upcoming Webinar for Eye Care Professionals

COLUMBIA, Maryland – October 10, 2025 (World Mental Health Day) – The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the driving force in the global development of treatments and cures for blinding diseases, is recognizing World Mental Health Day by announcing a free webinar for eye care professionals that highlights the critical role of mental health support in treating patients with retinal degenerative diseases.

The one-hour session, “Seeing Beyond Vision Loss: A Focus on Mental Health Resources for Patients with Retinal Disease,” will explore the emotional impact of progressive vision loss and the importance of a holistic care model that integrates ophthalmic treatment, low vision rehabilitation, and mental health resources.

“Vision loss is not just a medical challenge—it’s an emotional and psychological one,” said Michelle Glaze, director of professional outreach, Foundation Fighting Blindness. “Announcing this program on World Mental Health Day underscores the importance of equipping eye care professionals with the tools and resources to support patients’ resilience, reduce isolation, and improve quality of life.”

The webinar will include a patient perspective, a clinician’s overview of holistic approaches to care, and a psychologist’s insights on counseling and available resources. A live Q&A will follow the presentations.

Event Details
Date:  Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 7:00–8:00 p.m. ET
Registration (free): bit.ly/4nHgk7m

Featured Presenters
The program will bring together perspectives from a patient advocate, a retina specialist, and a clinical psychologist to highlight the value of a holistic approach to care:

Jessie Wolinsky is a disability advocate, podcaster, and co-founder of Sight Club. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age seven, she shares her journey of grief, acceptance, and advocacy as a person who is blind. She hosts the podcast “Badass Blind Babe” and engages an audience of more than 44,000 on TikTok as @BadassBlindBabe, raising awareness about disability and vision loss.

Sandeep Grover, MD is Professor of Ophthalmology and Associate Chair 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 has authored more than 150 publications and is a long-standing partner of the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Ann Wagner, PhD, LP, ABPP is a board-certified clinical psychologist who worked for 26 years on the PTSD Clinical Team at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Blind due to retinitis pigmentosa, she has become a sought-after speaker and consultant on topics of grief, resilience, and the mental health impact of vision loss.

About the Foundation Fighting Blindness
Established in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the world’s leading private funding source for retinal degenerative disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $954 million toward its mission of accelerating research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease. Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.

Media Contact:
Chris Adams
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
CAdams@FightingBlindness.org
410-423-0585