In addition to being a world-renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Brian Boxer Wachler has an exciting new credential for his extensive résumé: filmmaker. He is a producer on Holky: The Steven Holcomb Story, a moving documentary detailing the successes and struggles of Steven Holcomb, a decorated Olympic bobsledder. This half-hour film has been well received by critics and audiences, and recently won Best Documentary at the London International Film Festival.
See the trailer here!
Getting to Know Holky
Holcomb, known to his friends and teammates as “Holky,” started competing as a bobsledder in 1998. A few years into his career, he was diagnosed with keratoconus, a degenerative eye disease that significantly impacted his vision and jeopardized his career. After undergoing non-invasive Holcomb C3-R (corneal collagen cross-linking) five years later, his condition stabilized, and he had the Visian ICL then he became a competitive force once again.
Holcomb led the U.S. to top of the podium in the four-man bobsled event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This was the first gold medal for the United States in this event in 62 years. He won two more silver medals at the next Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
Dr. Brian’s Connection
Before Holcomb became Dr. Brian’s friend, he was a patient. Holcomb was eager to treat his condition to preserve both his vision and his athletic career. He sought treatment from Dr. Brian due to his unrivaled reputation for achieving positive outcomes for keratoconus patients. The corneal crosslinking procedure Dr. Brian performed was so successful for Holcomb (as it is for 99.3% of patients) that it was renamed the Holcomb C3-R® procedure.
Producing Holky: The Steven Holcomb Story was an opportunity for Dr. Brian to not only share an in-depth look at Holcomb’s journey, but also demonstrate to other people with keratoconus that the condition can be overcome with proper treatment. He is proud of the film that director Anna Auster and fellow producers Peter Yost and Jared Dubrino completed.
“It was a unique pleasure to know Steven,” said Dr. Brian. “With this film, we wanted to show audiences his mind and heart and share the legacy of a true champion.”
How You Can Watch
The documentary can currently be viewed on the streaming service IndieFlix. A subscription to IndieFlix is $4.99 per month; new members can sign up for a free seven-day trial to check out the film and browse the rest of IndieFlix’s library.
Do You Have Keratoconus?
If you, like this Olympic champion, have keratoconus, Dr. Brian’s trademarked Holcomb C3-R treatment can help to stabilize the condition. To learn more about a treatment plan from an expert ophthalmologist, please call 1-310-860-1900.
