contact us | 303-682-3396

William L. Benedict, MD

Retinal Specialist and Director of the Retinal Center of Northern Colorado

Longmont Eye DoctorDr. Benedict is a Board Certified and Fellowship trained eye physician and surgeon who specializes in the surgical and medical management of vitreo-retinal eye diseases. He is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology on the University of Colorado Medical School faculty. Dr. Benedict underwent two years of intensive vitreo-retinal fellowship training at Texas Tech University, which he completed in 1993. Prior to this he completed his Ophthalmology residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he also served as Chief Resident for one year. He earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, and his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Dr. Benedict is a native of Boulder and has directed the Retinal Center of Northern Colorado since 1993.

Dr. Benedict has expertise in all current diagnostic techniques, and medical and surgical therapies for diseases of the retina and vitreous. He has special interest in macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular disorders, uveitis, retinal tears and detachment, and severe ocular trauma. He has extensive training and experience in the use of ocular lasers and current microsurgical vitreoretinal techniques.

Eye Doctor serving Boulder, Fort Collins and Northern ColoradoThe Retinal Center of Northern Colorado is expertly staffed and fully equipped to handle any vitreo-retinal disease or emergency. Dr. Benedict has a multi-wavelength, mixed-gas retinal laser to conveniently provide the best available therapy for diabetic eye disease, retinal vascular diseases, wet macular degeneration, retinal tears and many other retinal problems. In conjunction with our in-office retinal angiography suite and rapid film processor, retinal vascular emergencies can be diagnosed and treated promptly. Diagnostic ultrasonography is also available for diagnosing complicated retinal detachments, intra-ocular tumors and orbital diseases. Two in-office surgical suites and a cryoretinopexy unit allow for convenient and less expensive treatment for selected retinal detachments, some ocular foreign bodies and selected eye trauma. Other major surgeries are performed at Longmont United Hospital; a modern facility which is fully equipped and staffed to handle all types of complicated and routine eye surgery.

Dr. Benedict currently lives in Longmont. He enjoys spending time with his family. Gardening, skiing, white water kayaking, in-line skating, and nature photography occupy the rest of his waking hours.

Curriculum Vitae

Licensure:

  • State of Colorado
  • State of Ohio
  • State of Texas

Boards:

  • Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology, 1992
  • National Board of Medical Examiners, 1987
  • SPEX, 1991

Practice:

  • Surgical and Medical Management of Vitreoretinal Diseases, 7/93 - present
    Eye Care Center and Retina Center of Northern Colorado, PC
    President
    1400 Dry Creek Drive, Longmont, CO 80503
    (303) 772-3300

Academic APPT.:

  • University of Colorado, 6/93 - present
  • Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology - Retina and Vitreous

Training:

  • Texas Tech University, 7/91 - 7/93
    Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
    Lubbock, Texas
    VITREORETINAL FELLOW - Surgical and Medical
  • The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 7/88 - 6/91
    Department of Ophthalmology,
    Cleveland, Ohio
  • CHIEF RESIDENT - OPHTHALMOLOGY (1990 - 1991)
    --Responsible for organizing resident didactic education, interviewing residency applicants and providing liaison between staff and residents
  • RESIDENT - OPHTHALMOLOGY (1988 - 1991)
    --Served on Resident Review Committee
  • The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 7/87 - 6/88
    Dept. of Internal Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
    INTERN

Education:

  • University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 9/83 - 6/87
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    MD
  • University of Michigan, 9/78 - 12/82
    Ann Arbor, Michigan
    B.S.E. - Bio-Chemical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude

Honors & Awards:

  • Outstanding Fellow Research Award - June 1993
  • Phi Lambda Upsilon (Chemistry Honorary): President 1982, Treasurer, 1981-1982.
  • Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honorary): Treasurer 1981, Recording Secretary 1981.
  • Vulcans: Honorary society for outstanding leadership in engineering 1982.

Organizations

  • The Vitreous Society
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Colorado Ophthalmologic Soc.
  • Colorado Med. Assoc.
  • Boulder Co. Med. Soc.
  • Wilderness Medical Society
  • American Medical Association

Interests:

  • White water kayaking; alpine and nordic skiing; in-line skating; backpacking; nature photography; traditional appalachian banjo, family

Publications:

  • Shami, MJ, Benedict, WL, Meyers, M: Early Presentation of Retinal Hamartomas in Tuberous Sclerosis. AJO April 1993:115:539.
  • Benedict, WL, Shami, MJ: Impending Macular Hole Associated with Topical Pilocarpine. AJO Dec 1992:114:765.
  • Shami, M., McCartney, D., Benedict, W.L., Barnes, C.: Spontaneous Retinal Reattachment in a Patient with PHPV and an Optic Nerve Coloboma. AJO Dec 1992;114:769.
  • Rowe, S., Siegel, S., Benedict, W.: Ophthalmic Manifestations of Genitourinary Diseases. Urology.
  • Matthews L.S., Goldstein S.A., Benedict W.L., Shaw A.: A New Transducer for Measuring Pressures Within Tissue Compartments. The Transactions of the 32nd Annual Orthopedic Society, New Orleans, Feb 1986:181.

Research & Presentations:

  • Cockings, C., Shami, M., Benedict, W.: Macular Photocoagulation and Predictive Value of the Potential Acuity Meter (PAM). ARVO Poster, 1994.
  • Shami, M., Benedict, W.L., May, D.R.: Long-Acting Gasses in Complicated Diabetic Vitrectomies. Presented at the Texas Tech University Annual Ophthalmology Research Symposium, 1992.
  • Benedict W.L., Shami M.: Diabetic Vitrectomy. Presented at the Texas Tech University Annual Ophthalmology Research Symposium, 1992.
  • Benedict W.L.: Screening for Chloroquine Retinopathy. Presented to the Lubbock Ophthalmologic Society, 1991.
  • Benedict W.L., Linberg J.V.: Lacrimal Resistance. Presented at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Annual Ophthalmology Symposium, 1991.
  • Benedict W.L., Kosmorsky G.S.: Optic Nerve Subarachnoid Fluid Dynamics in Papilledema. Presented at the Annual North American Neuro Ophth. Society meeting, 1990, and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Annual Ophthalmology Symposium, 1990.
  • Benedict W.L., Kosmorsky G.S.: Afferent Pupillary Defects in Cone Dystrophy. Presented at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Annual Ophthalmology Symposium, 1989.
  • Wander A., Benedict W.L., Bubel C.: Epinephrine Iontophoresis for the Reactivation of Latent Herpes Simplex in Guinea Pigs with Herpes Keratitis. Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, 1987.
  • Benedict W.L., Olsen R.: Characterization of the RP1 Plasmid in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Dept. of Microbiology, University of Michigan, 1983.
  • Kadlec R., Benedict W. L.: Mathematical Model of the Effects of Effluent from a Secondary Sewage Treatment Facility on a Swamp Ecosystem. Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, 1983.
  • Benedict, W.L.: Design of a Urethane Injection Mold Release System. The Budd Company, Plastics Research and Development, Troy, Michigan, 1979.