The Wills Eye Institute's glaucoma chat room provides a unique Internet opportunity every Wednesday from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., EST. A glaucoma specialist answers glaucoma-related questions, and glaucoma patients provide support for one another.

You can help to ensure the Wills chat room's continuing success by observing the following suggestions:

Asking a question or making a comment
Please begin a question or comment with the name of the person for whom you intend it. For example, "Jane, what kind of glaucoma do you have?" If you are addressing the entire group, use "All." Preface your questions to the doctor with "Dr." The doctor will try to include your name somewhere in his response. If you have comments relating to someone's question or remark, feel free to join the discussion. If the group is large or if several questions remain to be answered, the moderator will try to make sure the doctor answers all questions.

Priority time
Be sure to inform the others if you have an urgent need to speak to the doctor. They will give you all the time you need.

Abbreviations
Try to avoid using abbreviations. For instance, not everyone knows that "OR" means operating room or that "VF" means visual field.

Chatting in the Doctor's Suite during discussions of topics
Please wait until after the discussion of a designated topic to ask questions unrelated to the topic. You can use the private chat feature to talk privately with someone or go back to "The Waiting Room". After the discussion of the designated topic, feel free to ask the doctor glaucoma-related questions. If you have an urgent need to ask the doctor questions, please inform the moderator. Double click on the moderator's name.

Chatting in "The Waiting Room" during topic nights
"The Waiting Room" is always open and available for Glaucoma Chat. Please observe proper Chat Room Etiquette.

Private chat
If you want to chat privately with another person in the group or with several persons at once, double-click on their name or names.