Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 15 October 1998 — Page 12

The Muncie Times, October 15,1998, Page 12

Vasilis Makris, M.D., P.C. Diseases and Surgery of the Eye 288-1935 3300 W. Purdue Avenue

Now that Viagra has been on the market for a few months, is there any new information regarding its eye side effects?

The latest information available on Viagra, after its been on the market for a few months, is rather positive. Initially, there was significant concern regarding a bluish vision and light sensitivity that it caused to patients taking it. It is now felt that those are signs of mild irritation of the retina, which do not appear to be of any pathologic significance. There is still a caution in people with diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, against using this medication, but there has been no ill effects reported for people that have macular degeneration. As more clinical information is gathered after longer use of this medication, all these questions will be answered more definitively. If you have an eye-related problem or question you would like to see addressed in this column, please send it to. 3300 W. Purdue Avenue • 288-1935 Visit us on the internet at http://visioncarel.com

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IDA program helps low-income families buy houses By Judy Mays

The Indiana Development Accounts (IDA) program is designed to help qualified persons accumulate savings to buy a home, start a business, or for education. The Muncie Homeownership and Development Center, the Indiana State Department of Commerce and Star Financial Bank are partners in the IDA program. This will allow qualified Delaware County residents to receive state funds. Qualifications for the program include being at least 17 and a resident of Delaware County. “In January the Muncie Homeownership Center was awarded funds to be assigned to 40 accounts,” said Annette Phillips, the center’s program manager. All of those awards have been assigned, she said. In July the center received funding for 33 additional accounts. “Of that number 29 are still available. We want people to know that the IDA program is an excellent way to accumulate savings for home, business start-up, or education.” Phillips said. Phillips said she initiated the program by submitting a grant to the Indiana Department of Commerce. “I don’t receive an administrative fee. It’s a lot of hard work and adds to my work load but it is well worth the effort,” she said. Sheritha Patton, 36, a single mother of three children ages 2, 9, and 11, became a new homeowner in September through the program. “I had been looking

for a house for about a year and a half. But, even though I was looking, I thought I was going to have to wait a while because my credit wasn’t great at the time. I kept looking but at the same time I was afraid,” she said. “Finally, I talked to a friend at work about qualifying for a loan. She referred me to Mr. Pat Box at Mutual Federal Savings Bank. He, in turn, referred me to Mrs. Philhps.” Patton said it was the best thing she could have done. “The program is such a good idea. You benefit financially and are also educated on what to look for in a pre-existing home, as well as a new structure. I now know much more about the structure and maintenance of a home,” she said. Patton said she saved $300. IDA matched her savings with $900. “I was then able to place $1,200 as a down payment for my three bedroom house,” she said. As a result of the program, she said. I’m also better in budgeting and saving. “Our message to people is that you don’t have to be contentjust paying rent. Find out if homeownership is for you,” she said. Philhps said applications are available. A mandatory, no-cost workshop is being presented from 8 a.m. to noon on Oct. 17 and 24. Preregistration is required by Oct. 15. The center’s office is at 206 S. Walnut Street. For more information call 2826656.