Tips for caring for your eyes as you grow older

Written by Hillsboro Free Press Tuesday, 13 July 2010 17:45

As you age, the lens in each of your eyes begins to lose its ability to change focus quickly on an object or page of text, causing blurred vision at reading distance. Growing older and getting reading glasses seem to go hand in hand, just like getting gray hair or wrinkles as you age. But that doesn’t have to be the case if you take steps to care for your eyes as you age.

Presbyopia, a natural effect of aging, happens to just about everyone around the age of 40, even if you have had laser eye surgery. As you age, the lens in each of your eyes begins to lose its ability to change focus quickly on an object or page of text, causing blurred vision at reading distance.

Chances are that you know several people who have this condition, and you may develop it yourself, now or in the future.

Some simple, yet often overlooked steps can help you take care of your eyesight as you age:

• During...

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Marion council authorizes action on nusiance properties

Written by Patty Decker Tuesday, 13 July 2010 17:42

The Marion City Council authorized City Attorney Dan Baldwin at its July 12 meeting to start taking action on businesses and residences that have fallen into disrepair.

The council directed Baldwin to give these property owners one last chance to clean up those areas before taking the matter to court.

Baldwin said he plans on starting at the west end of town and working from there.

“There are two businesses and at least two properties on Santa Fe (that qualify as dilapidated),” he said.

Beginning this week, Baldwin said he will notify the property owners that they have one week to come up with an acceptable plan on how they plan to remedy the problem.

Those receiving notices will need to talk to the city and get an agreement in...

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Downtown facility gives Woods base for fitness classes

Written by Don Ratzlaff Tuesday, 08 June 2010 17:08

Anna Woods instructs participants in her fitness camp for child­ren ages 3 to 6 on Monday morning. It was the first official day for the new Woods Well­ness center at 107 W. Grand in Hillsboro. After 31?2 years of offering classes in multiple venues and communities in the area, Anna Woods of Woods Wellness will now welcome clients who come to her at a newly opened facility in downtown Hillsboro.

“I guess it came down to I got tired of hauling my equipment around to different places,” Woods said about the move. “I’ve been able to meet a lot of people that way and develop a clientele, but I was tired of the driving.”

After starting her fitness enterprise based in her rural home in January 2007, Woods has been offering classes in various locations Hillsboro and Marion as well as making weekly trips to Hutchinson and McPherson.

She said circumstances “kind of all fell together” in recent weeks, leading to the...

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Vitamins do offer several benefits

Written by Fred Cicetti Tuesday, 11 May 2010 19:22

Q What are the benefits of vitamins?

AIt’s very important to talk with your doctor before you take any vitamin and mineral pills, especially if you take prescription medicines, have any health problems or are elderly. Taking too much of a vitamin or mineral can cause problems with some medical tests or interfere with drugs you’re taking.

Vitamins and minerals are “micronutrients” your body needs in small but steady amounts. Your body can't make most micronutrients, so you must get them elsewhere.

Vitamins are natural substances found in plants and animals. There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble and fat-soluble.

Water-soluble vitamins are easily absorbed by your body. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, they don’t have to be...

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