Charline S. Boente, MD, MS

Charline Boente, MD, MS, started a career as an engineer at a large wastewater system in California before deciding to pursue her medical degree.

Boente said she enjoyed the tangible systems-based problem-solving side of engineering; but she wanted more human interaction and the feeling that she was making an impact at an individual level. So, she transitioned to medicine and chose ophthalmology as a subspecialty. 

She joined Indiana University School of Medicine in 2016 as an assistant professor of clinical ophthalmology. Since 2019, she has served as the Department of Ophthalmology’s residency program director, leading 24 ophthalmology residents and working closely with young medical minds.

She works daily out of Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health as a pediatric ophthalmologist. She also sees patients at the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital.

Boente's clinical and surgical practice encompasses various eye conditions, including strabismus, cataracts, glaucoma, optic nerve abnormalities, anterior segment anomalies, and neurotrophic keratopathy. She performs weekly retinopathy of prematurity exams and directs the inpatient ophthalmology consult service at Riley Hospital for Children. 

Boente is listed as an investigator on several clinical trials through the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) and remains active in clinical research, particularly related to ROP and corneal neurotization.