In 1999 The Glaucoma Foundation was contacted by a 19-year-old college student in Texas who had been diagnosed with glaucoma at age 15. Depressed about taking medications the rest of her life, possibly having surgery and basically being threatened with going blind, she wanted to talk to other young people in the same situation. That contact led to the creation of YUP (Young People Under Pressure), the first email-based support community in cyberspace for young people with glaucoma.
That was just the beginning. Support communities can play an important role in helping glaucoma patients understand their disease and learn how to manage it over a lifetime. Today TGFsponsors three free online support groups, each hosted by Yahoo! Groups. There are groups for young patients under 30, for the caregivers of young children with glaucoma, and for adult patients. One may be just right for you.
Today YUP makes it possible for 281 teens and young adults under 30 with glaucoma to communicate with their peers and offer support. Says one member, “Every time I have a bad day I email the group and tell them what I am feeling and I get encouragement and assurance that I’m not the only young patient who feels that way.” Email yup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to join!
YUP Parents
With 187 members, YUP Parents provides a forum where the caregivers of young children with glaucoma can address the daily challenges of raising a child with glaucoma, including surgeries and treatments, doctors, and other issues and experiences specific to childhood glaucomas. Email yup_parents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to join!
APUP
Recent discussions among the 424 adult patient members of APUP have ranged from questions about new treatments for dry eye, personal experiences with surgical procedures to lower IOP, lifestyle issues and some rare types of glaucoma. Email apup-subscribe@yahoogroups.comto join!