William "Tom" Rylant, 70, of Burlington testified in federal court Monday that eye surgeon David Chase saved him from going blind and, because Rylant had no health insurance, performed the work at no charge to him.

"He said, 'Forget about it. Don't worry about it,'" Rylant said Chase told him when he asked about the cost of his eye care. "Dr. Chase is the best."

Rylant was one of five witnesses, four of them former Chase patients, who testified in support of Chase on Monday as the defense of the Burlington eye surgeon began. Their testimony came after the prosecution rested its case earlier in the day, the 32nd day of the trial.

Chase faces 71 counts that he concocted diagnoses and performed needless surgeries to defraud federal and private health-insurance programs of more than $1 million. Thirty-two of Chase's former patients have testified for the prosecution against Chase since the trial began Sept. 19.

If convicted, Chase faces fines of $250,000 on each count, plus a lengthy prison term. Chase closed his practice in 2003 after the state suspended his license.

Rylant, a retired worker for a local beer and wine wholesaler, said he went to Chase in the mid-1980s and complained of blurry vision and difficulty driving at night. He said Chase told him he had the worst case of glaucoma the doctor had ever seen.

"He said he'd have to do laser surgery on both eyes to prevent total blindness," Rylant said. Chase was unable to save Rylant's right eye but "as far as I'm concerned, he saved my left eye."

Several years later, Chase performed cataract surgery on the left eye, Rylant said. Rylant was never charged for any of the work, but believes the Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired did pay part of the cost of the surgeries.

"I couldn't believe how bright everything was," she said, describing her improved vision after the work was done. "Everything was shiny and crisp. I could see things in ways I hadn't seen them in years."

Just before court recessed for the day, Brianne Chase, David Chase's wife of 46 years, took the stand. She oversaw her husband's business affairs and her family's finances and is expected to discuss, among other matters, the Chases' philanthropic activities.

According to court documents, the Chases gave away between $50,000 and $100,000 annually to charities. In a discussion before Judge William Sessions after the jury was dismissed for the day, defense lawyer Jeffrey Behm said the charitable activity was proof Chase was well off and had no reason to concoct diagnoses or do unneeded surgeries to generate income.

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