Richard Boling II, MD

Board Certified Ophthalmologist President & Chief Medical Officer | Elkhart

Dr. Richard C. Boling II is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist, the second generation of the Boling family to lead this practice, and one of the most experienced and respected ophthalmic surgeons in the Michiana region.

With over 25,000 cataract procedures and more than 20,000 LASIK procedures to his name, a career defined by surgical firsts in Northern Indiana, and a genuine love for the community he has served since 1986, Dr. Boling II represents the clinical heart of a practice built on excellence across three generations.

Clinical Focus

Dr. Boling II specializes in the full range of surgical and medical eye care, with particular depth in the procedures that have defined his career and shaped the standard of ophthalmic care in the Michiana region. His areas of clinical focus include:

No-needle, no-stitch, no-patch cataract surgery
Intralase LASIK and laser vision correction
Aesthetic surgery of the eyelids
Glaucoma management
Diabetic retinopathy
Macular degenerative eye disease
Routine eye care for all ages

Dr. Boling II's approach to care reflects the same conviction that has guided his practice since he joined his father in 1986: that every guest deserves first-class care delivered with genuine attentiveness, the most advanced technology available, and the kind of personal investment that can only come from a physician who truly loves his work and his community.

Education and Training

Dr. Boling II's academic and clinical training reflect the strong Midwestern roots and the lifelong commitment to excellence that have defined both his personal and professional life.

Early Life and Undergraduate Education

An Elkhart, Indiana native, Dr. Boling II attended Elkhart High School before graduating as one of the first classes of Elkhart Memorial High School in 1974. A lifelong athlete, he excelled in football and basketball throughout high school and college, developing the discipline, competitiveness, and team orientation that continue to characterize his approach to medicine and leadership.

Dr. Boling II completed his undergraduate pre-med studies at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, graduating in 1978.

Medical School and Residency

Dr. Boling II earned his MD from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and remained in Indiana for his ophthalmology residency at the Indiana University Medical Center. He achieved Board Certification in Ophthalmology in 1986, the same year he joined his father at the family practice and began building the surgical legacy that would define the next four decades of his career.

I’m surrounding myself with the best people, state-of-the-art equipment, one-of-a-kind facilities, and a sincere love for my profession and community. I am able to enjoy the opportunity of serving others on a daily basis by enhancing and protecting the precious sense of sight. It is truly a honor and privilege to care for you and your loved ones.

Richard Boling II

A Career of Surgical Firsts

Dr. Boling II has spent his career not just keeping pace with advances in ophthalmic surgery but leading them in the Michiana region, bringing procedures and technologies to Northern Indiana that gave local patients access to the most advanced care available anywhere in the country.

No-Needle, No-Stitch, No-Patch Cataract Surgery

Dr. Boling II was the first surgeon in Michiana to perform no-needle, no-stitch, no-patch cataract surgery, a milestone that transformed the cataract surgery experience for patients in the region and established the standard that Boling Vision Center continues to practice today.

He has performed over 25,000 cataract procedures over the course of his career, a volume that reflects not just extraordinary surgical experience but the trust that generations of Michiana families have placed in his hands.

Pioneering Refractive Surgery in Michiana

Dr. Boling II was the first surgeon in Michiana to bring refractive surgery to the region, beginning with radial keratotomy in 1990. In 1995, he became the first surgeon in the area to perform PRK laser vision correction, and he continued his pioneering work as an Investigator in two FDA clinical studies researching LASIK protocols.

To date, he has performed well over 20,000 LASIK procedures, a body of work that has given thousands of Northern Indiana residents the freedom from glasses and contacts they had never thought possible.

Professional Memberships & Recognition

Dr. Boling II's contributions to the field and to the community have been recognized at both the state and national levels. He is a proud member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and maintains active engagement with the professional organizations that support clinical excellence and the advancement of ophthalmic care. He regularly attends continuing education courses on new surgical techniques, procedures, and ocular disease management, a commitment to lifelong learning that reflects his belief that first-class care requires a physician who never stops growing. His professional recognition includes the Indiana Academy of Ophthalmology Humanitarian of the Year award in 2011 and the Indiana State Medical Association Physician Community Service Award in 2012, the latter honoring an Indiana physician for a lifetime of outstanding volunteer activities that have made a civic, cultural, social, and economic contribution to the community.

man smiling | glasses lined up | abstract art

Community Involvement

Dr. Boling II's commitment to his community extends well beyond the exam room and the operating suite, expressed through decades of charitable service and volunteer work that reflect the same values he brings to every aspect of his practice.

Operation Sight

Dr. Boling II is a proud volunteer for Operation Sight, the ASCRS Foundation's charitable cataract surgery program, performing free cataract surgery for uninsured patients who meet income eligibility requirements.

For a surgeon who has spent his career restoring and preserving sight for thousands of Michiana residents, the opportunity to extend that gift to patients who could not otherwise access it is one he embraces with genuine conviction.

Kindness to Prevent Blindness

Dr. Boling II volunteers for the Kindness to Prevent Blindness mobile eye care unit, providing free eye exams and prescription glasses to students across Elkhart and St. Joseph County schools.

As a lifelong Elkhart native and the physician who has cared for generations of local families, his presence in the schools where many of those families' children are learning reflects a personal commitment to this community that goes far beyond professional obligation.

Beyond the Practice

Dr. Boling II resides in Elkhart with his wife of over 35 years, Babette, and their five daughters: Ashley, Whitney, Hayley, Mackenzie, and Ronisha. He is a proud grandfather to Ryan James, Lyla Grace, Noah, and Brielle, and finds in his family the same joy and fulfillment that has sustained his love for his work across nearly four decades of practice.

He notes with characteristic humor that after years of living with six women, he feels he has earned an honorary ovary, a line that captures something genuine about the warmth, self-awareness, and good humor that his guests and colleagues have always loved about him.

Schedule With Dr. Boling II

Dr. Boling II sees guests at Boling Vision Center's Elkhart location. To schedule an appointment, call our Elkhart office or request an appointment online.

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