BVA members and their families undoubtedly know, perhaps as well as any demographic, that vision changes affect nearly every aspect of life. The impact is often compounded when the loss is gradual and associated with age after a lifetime of being able to see.

Changes in the people with sight loss range from how surroundings are navigated to how they feel emotionally. These effects, in turn, can impact strongly on the lives of spouses, children, grandchildren, and other caregivers.

Losing sight can surely be stressful and sometimes isolating. The Centers for Disease Control reports that about one in four adults with vision loss experiences symptoms of anxiety or depression. Taking care of our eyes while taking care of our mind and spirit goes hand in hand.

The November 2025 issue of Your Eyes Today, a monthly newsletter of the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington, expounds on the importance of mental health and offers a handful of excellent ways to continue living a full, independent, and meaningful life.