On April 9, 2010 when Olympic Gold Medalist Bobsledder Steve Holcomb and Dr. Brian were on Dr. Phil’s The Doctors television show, Dr. Brian announced the name modification of “C3-R” to “Holcomb C3-R” in honor of Steve Holcomb.  This marked the first time in history that a treatment for a disease was named after an Olympic athlete who made the treatment world-famous.Click here to watch the naming of Holcomb C3-R on The Doctors

Keratoconus is more common now than ever before.  Once thought to occur in 1 in 2000 people, it is now 1 in 500 people (400% more common than in the past). The good news is there is a way to help treat your Keratoconus and stop it "in it's tracks" from progressing. Imagine the peace-of-mind you would have knowing your Keratoconus is stable.  How wonderful would it be to never lose sleep over worrying about having a cornea transplant at some point in the future?

The solution for already thousands of Keratoconus patients been a non-invasive procedure called Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System.

Dr. Brian is considered the "Guru of Modern Crosslinking."  People regularly come from all over the United States, Canada, and other countries because he invented the               non--invasive Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System in 2002 that can strengthen the weakened corneal structure in keratoconus (see Presentation and Research Articles link). This unique method works by non-invasively increasing collagen cross-linking, which are the natural "anchors" within the cornea. These anchors are responsible for preventing the cornea from bulging out and becoming more steep and irregular (which is the cause of    keratoconus). The only place to have the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System is at the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in Beverly Hills, California.

The figures above show the parallel corneal layers (white) and the collagen cross-linking (red) which are increased after Holcomb C3-R® treatment.

In 2003, Dr. Brian invented the Holcomb C3-R® Crosslinking System- the non-invasive 30-minute, in-office procedure to be better and safer for people than CXL which requires disruption of the epithelium. Holcomb C3-R®  Crosslinking System SAVES patients from significant pain and increased blurred vision during the first month that would otherwise occur with removal of the epithelium.  When Dr. Brian invented the "epi-on" or transepithelial crosslinking technique in 2003, he did so because he saw the pain and problems were having from crosslinking with removal of the epithelium.

During Holcomb C3-R®, our proprietary Crosslinking Solution (containing riboflavin and other compounds) is applied to the cornea, which is then activated by a special light.

Being invented in 2003, the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System has the longest track record of all crosslinking techniques in the United States, Canada, Latin America & South America, Asia, and Europe (with the exception of Germany).   With the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System you know you are getting “the real thing” developed by modern crosslinking guru, Dr. Brian.

Dr. Brian also developed a unique bilateral technique that allows both eyes to be treated at the same time.  With the Holcomb C3-R® Crosslinking System you won't have to come back on another day for the second eye to be stabilized (which people find to be very inconvenient to take extra days off work).

The Holcomb C3-R® Crosslinking System is special and proprietary - it is only available at our office - it is not available anywhere else.

Dr. Brian developed a proprietary Crosslinking Solution that is one of several keys to its success.  Holcomb C3-R^® is protected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. For more details, please click on link in right column, "How Holcomb C3-R Was Developed".

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Removing the epithelium (as done with CXL) creates a painful recovery and significantly increases risk of infection, corneal haze, scarring, and corneal nerve trauma requiring 6  months to recover.  The non-invasive Holcomb C3-R® allows patients to return to their normal routine the very next day!

Our studies and studies of other eye doctors in outside countries have shown patient results are not signficantly different with crosslinking with removal of epithelium vs. leaving epithelium undisturbed in its place.  Therefore, it is not necessary to scrape off the epithelium for crosslinking and is safer without scraping off epithelium. Please visit www.KeratoconusInserts.com for more information on results of Holcomb C3-R® vs epi-off (CXL) corneal crosslinking. 

The risk of the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System is mild irritation for a couple of days. 

The known risks of the "epi-off" (removal of epithelium) CXL crosslinking procedure include:    

1) corneal infection and ulceration

2) corneal haze

3) delayed epithelial healing

4) blurred vision

5) delay in corneal nerve regeneration

6) permanent corneal scarring

7) induced visual distortions

8) peripheral flap melting in patients who had previous LASIK  

The above CXL complications have NEVER occured with the Holcomb C3-R^®Crosslinking System.

The retreatment rate is about 1% with either epi-on and epi-off techniques.

The non-surgical Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System is a routine part of our practice and has been so for over 8 years.  Since Holcomb C3-R^® is NOT in a study - our patients are not required to have the multiple "back and forth" office visits which can be quite time-consuming and disruptive to one's school or work schedule. 

Another advantage of the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System over other crosslinking methods (eg. CXL) is the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System covers the greatest corneal area for crosslinking - it covers over 150% more surface area of the cornea compared to other techniques.  This allows for a more complete area of treatment which is important since Keratoconus extends into the periphery of the cornea .  We make sure we treat the far periphery of your corneas as well as central areas with the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System.

The Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System can also be combined with Intacs^® to flatten the keratoconus cone even more than with Intacs alone. We routinely perform these both procedures on the same day.  In these cases, the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System can stabilize keratoconus from getting worse as well as help the Intacs^® reverse part of the keratoconus steepening that had already occurred up to the time of the treatment.  The combination of same-day Intacs and the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System can give you the ideal results of improved vision AND stability.

The figure above demonstrates almost 10 diopters of corneal flattening in one patient before (left) after this combined treatment (right).

RIGHT EYE
LEFT EYE
Natural progression of keratoconus in a patient’s eyes over 1.5 years. Notice the dramatic lower cone steepening (red) and increased astigmatism over this short period of time.  Holcomb C3-R® can halt this progression and prevent these progressive distortions in vision. Note: not all keratoconus progresses this rapidly.

This above case of progression occurred in a young woman, but could have been avoided.  After consultation with Dr. Brian, she saw another eye doctor in Los Angeles who was uninformed and advised her not to have Holcomb C3-R. The result: significant vision loss from delay of treatment for over 1 year. She came back for Holcomb C3-R which stopped the progression and further vision loss.  Unfortunately she won't regain the vision she lost during the one year of delay.

Dr. Brian is credited as the first doctor in the world (except Germany) to use corneal crosslinking treatments for keratoconus as well as being the first doctor in the world to combine this treatment with Intacs^®.  As the inventor of transepithelial Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking in 2003 - Dr. Brian has the longest crosslinking track record of any doctor in the United States, Canada, Asia, Latin America & South America, and Europe (except for Germany). 

People who want the best possible treatment for their eyes choose Dr. Brian. With the Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System you can rest assured that you'll be receiving the crosslinking procedure with the longest track record in the world (except for Germany). 

Dr. Brian is considered the "Guru of Modern Crosslinking" because of his extensive experience and expertise.  Would you trust your precious eyes and the future of your vision to someone who just learned how to do the procedure?

Patients come to us from all over the United States and from other countries.  Please click below to listen to patients share in their own words how the process was for them and the ways their lives have been changed after they overcame their Keratoconus.

The Holcomb C3-R^® Crosslinking System is the only crosslinking procedure with an Olympic Gold Medal behind it.   The United States Olympic Committee effectively endorsed the procedure when they paid 100% of the fee for U.S. Olympic Bobsledder Steve Holcomb to have it to save his eyesight - the procedure now bears his name in honor of what Steve accomplished after overcoming his Keratoconus. 

Finally, you can overcome your Keratoconus as well.

CHART REVIEW AND CONSULTATION FOR

OUT-OF-TOWN PATIENTS

Many out-of-town patients would like Dr. Brian to do a complimentary review of their medical records and make a preliminary determination of candidacy. This is useful before planning a trip to Beverly Hills. These are the steps:

• Along with your last 2 or 3 eye exams, please be sure to include a color copy of your corneal mapping. Color corneal mapping is a very important tool, along with your exam history, to determine your candidacy. The last 2 years of your total eye history will be used to make this preliminary determination.
  
  
• Inside the envelope, please be sure to include a cover sheet with your name address, phone number and email address and the words, “Keratoconus Record Review”, so that we may optimize communication with you.
  
  
• Enclose with your letter a copy of your records.
  
  Mail to:
  Boxer Wachler Vision Institute

           Keratoconus Record Review
           465 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 902
           Beverly Hills, CA 90210

           Dr. Brian will contact you to discuss the review.

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2010 Vision Awards

Dr. Brian and Steve Holcomb were honored at the 2010 Vision Awards for their historic accomplishments that led to a Gold Medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  Dr. Brian received the Jules Stein Living Tribute Award and Steve received the Athlete of Vision Award.  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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Keratoconus is the thinning and bulging of the cornea. Treatments include Intacs^®, Holcomb C3-R^®, cornea collagen cross linking, and if keratoconus progresses to a serious level, cornea transplantation. Dr Brian Boxer Wachler is a specialist in keratoconus evaluation and treatment.