Boxer Wachler Vision at the Winter Olympics, Vancouver
2010! |
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Steve Holcomb with Dr.
Brian after bringing home the Gold - first time
in 62 years |
THE STEVE HOLCOMB STORY
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. 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.
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Steve having
eyes examined by Dr. Brian
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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 C3-R®,
a combination of vitamin applications and light to
strengthen the cornea. Following 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.
C3-R® is credited for saving Steve's eyesight.
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| Celebrating Steve's
World Championship in 2009 (journalist Alan Abrahamson,
right) |
Thanks to the Olympic Team and the U.S. Bobsled Team
for taking a chance on the C3-R®
procedure, which at that time 2 years ago was a relatively
new treatment, Steve went from being legally blind
and retired to having great vision and World Champion.
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:
Bobsledding
Holcomb a sight to behold
Steve
Holcomb Story Raises Worldwide Awareness of Non-Surgical
Keratoconus Treatment
After
eye surgery, U.S. bobsled driver has visions of gold
'Night Train' Helps Bring Steven Holcomb, US Bobsledders
to Light
The Remarkable Comeback of Steven Holcomb
| Watch
videos about Steve Holcomb and C3-R Treatment. |
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Steve and Dr. Brian just after Steve crossed
the |
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| finish
line winning the Gold - a US first in 62
years. |
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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!!
Steve's story will be an inspiration to many for
years to come.
Warmest regards,
Brian S. Boxer Wachler, MD
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