The chat room is always open for your use, day and night.

The chat room entrance is now loading at the bottom of this page, enter a nickname and click on "Connect" to enter the chat room. The nickname you enter will appear automatically in a small window on the right in the chat room. Please use the same name or nickname each time you visit the chat room. You will be in the Doctor's Suite when you enter the chat room.

You can use the Settings button to change the size of the font you use to enter text, enter your profile and more. On the Settings page, you will see four tabs: Profile, Options, Fonts, Information.

Profile

In the Profile section, add information about yourself in the appropriate spaces, e.g., name, gender, age, etc. After "Comments," enter a brief profile. The information in your profile saves time in the chat room and should include: gender, age (optional), type of glaucoma, when diagnosed, current glaucoma medication, laser, surgery, state or province where you reside, and any other relevant information you wish to provide. You may also list your e-mail address, ICQ number, etc.

If you want an icon to appear beside your name in the chat room, select one. If you do not want to use an icon, click on a blank space between icons. When you have finished, be sure to click the "Save" button.

To view a profile when you are in the chat room, click on a name once to highlight it, then click on the profile icon (the character with the flat head) above the window containing a list of participants' names. If you know how to use "cut and paste," you can store your comments in a file to avoid needing to enter the information every time you enter the chat room.

Options

Click the Options tab. Select a message scrolling speed.

Fonts

Select the type and size font and the colors you want to use. When you have finished, click on the Save button. You will return automatically to the chat room.

Helpful Tips

To highlight the doctor's answers or comments, select the doctor's name and click on the third icon from the left at the top.

During chat topic nights, we discuss a pre-determined topic for about 30 minutes in the "Doctor's Suite." Please wait until discussion of the topic ends before asking questions or making comments unrelated to the topic.

To avoid distracting the doctor or others, you can use the private message feature to greet people or chat with them. (Clicking twice on a patient's name opens a small window for private messages.) You can also go to another room for a private chat.

To get help in the chat room, place your cursor on an item, such as the icons at the top of the names, and read the information about it in the Help window at the bottom of the screen. Glaucoma Chat requires a Java Compatible web browser to run. Please review our Chat Room FAQ's section for additional information or feel free to contact the ChatMaster for assistance.

The chat room is always open and accessible to the public. It is there for glaucoma patients and family members to share their experiences. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must be with you at all times during the chat session. Neither the Foundation nor the Hospital shall be held responsible for any information exchanged in the chat room.

We hope you enjoy the chat.

NOTE: If login window does not appear and an X appears, please hit Tools, then select Sun Java Consule. A new window will open. Hit Control Key and Refresh on your web browser at the same time. Click here to download Sun Java Virtual Machine.