Keratoconus Athlete Wins Gold Medal at Olympics!

Steve Holcomb, U.S. Bobsled Driver and Keratoconus Patient Wins The 2010 Olympic Gold Medal 4-Man Bobsled - First in 62 Years! Also covered on Today Show

Steve Holcomb rides to historic gold
USA-1 wins first four-man Olympic title since 1948

Steve Holcomb discusses Keratoconus and his treatments just before the big race at the Olympics

Boxer Wachler Vision at the Winter Olympics, Vancouver 2010!

The Steve Holcomb Story

Steve Holcomb with Dr. Brian after bringing home the Gold - first time in 62 years.

All eyes are now on Olympic Gold Medalist    U.S. Bobsled driver Steve Holcomb who made history February 27 by driving his ominous sled named the "Night Train" to glory, winning the first U.S. 4 man Olympic Gold in 62 years which was coved the Today Show and many other shows.  However, it wasn't always this way for our patient Steve.  Steve had Keratoconus, a devastating degenerative eye disease that weakened his cornea, the outer lens of the eye.  In 2007, Steve's Keratoconus worsened to the point of making him legally blind and Steve was put on the cornea transplant list. Steve didn't want to put his teammates' safety at risk due to his failing eyesight. He officially retired from his beloved sport in June of 2007.  Steve had been an athlete his whole life and was training and competing for over a decade to win an Olympic medal in Bobsled.  At that time, his hope for an Olympic medal had vanished. But the U.S. Olympic Team, U.S. Bobsled Federation, his teammates, and coaches wouldn't let him stay retired. They knew there must be something out there to keep him in the sport and competing. They saw potential in Steve that could be realized if his vision could be restored.

Watch videos about Steve Holcomb and Holcomb C3-R Treatment.

Steve having eyes examined by Dr. Brian

They researched alternatives to the invasive and painful cornea transplant surgery, the traditional treatment for Keratoconus.  That's how they found me to treat his Keratoconus with a non-surgical treatment called Holcomb C3-R® , a combination of vitamin applications and light to strengthen the cornea.  Folowing that, I placed an insertable contact lens to further improve his vision. Steve immediately came out of retirement with his new eyesight in early 2008.  This enabled Steve and his "Night Train to go on to win the World Bobsled Championship in 2009, the first the U.S. had done in 50 years.  Steve and the Night Train became the top rated bobsled team in the world going into the Olympics.  Holcomb C3-R® is credited for saving Steve's eyesight. 

Celebrating Steve's World Championship in 2009 (journalist Alan Abrahamson, right)

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the U.S. Bobsled Team paid for Steve's Holcomb C3-R® procedure because they had extensively researched it and were confident with its results. Steve went from being legally blind and retired to having great vision and World Champion - an incredible comeback. 

Then on February 11, I went to Vancouver for a press conference with Steve and the U.S. Bobsled team to discuss Steve's remarkable comeback (or "second chance" as Steve says) and do the final eye exam before sending him off to race.  Below are links to a number of the articles after the press conference:

Philadelphia Daily News - Bobsledding Holcomb a sight to behold

Vision to Win Gold

Steve Holcomb Story Raises Worldwide Awareness of Non-Surgical Keratoconus Treatment

Dallas News - After eye surgery, U.S. bobsled driver has visions of gold

Fanhouse.com - 'Night Train' Helps Bring Steven Holcomb, US Bobsledders to Light

Bobsled Driver Holcomb Sees Better Things Ahead

Bobsled champion Steven Holcomb has new vision

	Steve and Dr. Brian just after Steve and the "Night Train" won Gold - first U.S. Bobsled Gold in 62 years. Bobsled champion Steven Holcomb has new vision

On February 26 and 27, I was at the Olympic track with my family to support Steve and the "Night Train" in their quest for Gold. I routinely posted updates on our Facebook, Twitter, and blog feeds (see below).  Moments after Steve crossed the finish line winning first place and the Gold, I had tears streaming down my face, hugging my wife and family. It was quite an emotional day for many there as history was made on more than one level.  We are all so happy for Steve and his team - they earned it!!  See Today Show video below right after they won gold.

The "Holcomb C3-R" procedure was renamed on The Doctors TV show on April 9, 2010.  The marked the first time a procedure was named in honor of an Olympic athlete - both Steve and the Holcomb C3-R® procedure are now world-famous.

Steve's story is an inspiration to millions of people.  Steve says he was given a "second chance" and now SO MANY other people can also have a "second chance" with these procedures that we perform almost daily...for over 7 years ...for patients who come to us from all over the country.   That's why we do what we do here.  It's all about changing lives for the better.

Warmest regards,

Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD

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Keratoconus Featured on  NBC's TODAY SHOW

Holcomb C3-R^® Saves Student's Vision, Life Restored!

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2010 Vision Awards

Dr. Brian and Steve Holcomb were honored at the 2010 Vision Awards for their historic accomplishments with Holcomb C3-R^® that led to a Gold Medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  Dr. Brian received the Jules Stein Living Tribute Award for inventing Holcomb C3-R^® and Steve received the Athlete of Vision Award for his Olympic Gold Medal.  Many celebrities were on hand including Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, comedienne Lilly Tomlin, cosmetic dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman, and actor Billy Bob Thornton among many others.

	Dr. Brian speaking		Steve Holcomb at the podium

	Dr. Brian before the press		Steve Holcomb with his gold medal and plaque

	Buzz Aldrin		Dr. Bill Dorfman		Dr. Brian & Steve		Will.i.am

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