keratoconus | vision correction | cataract | glaucoma | retina | strabismus
DR. MARCO ABBONDANZA, OPHTHALMOLOGIST AND EYE SURGEON IN ROME AND MILAN, ITALY
Dr. Marco Abbondanza, keratoconus, cataract & refractive surgeon
Dr. Marco Abbondanza is an Italian MD, ophthalmologist and eye surgeon holding two specialties in both Ophthalmology and Clinical Pathology.
During his medical career, he has become one of the leading experts on keratoconus and keratoconus conservative surgery, having been among the first to pioneer Corneal Cross-linking (CXL) – a technique he introduced in Italy in 2005 – and having conceived himself a microsurgical technique to avoid corneal transplantation, Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy (MARK), in 1993.
Dr. Abbondanza is also one of the most experienced refractive surgeons, having introduced, among other things, PRK and Excimer Laser in Italy in 1989 and Phakic Intraocular Lens (PIoL) implantation in 2000, as well as being a prominent cataract surgeon.
He has also been treating glaucoma, retinal diseases and strabismus for the past 30 years. He is often interviewed by national/international media and has published over 20 clinical studies.
Dr. Abbondanza is married since 1984 and is father of two.
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INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL/SURGICAL STUDIES
From 1984 to 1990 he works in the ophthalmic department at San Filippo Neri Hospital in Rome as an assistant MD.
He develops his interest in refractive surgery from the beginning and spends his time in the most advanced and renown international centres.
In 1988 he qualifies to perform “Epikeratoprosthesis” surgery for keratoconus, myopia, high levels of hyperopia and aphachy using a technique developed by Dr. Kauffman, director of the Ophthalmic Center at Louisiana University (USA).
Dr. Marco Abbondanza and Prof. Fyodorov in the U.S.
In 1988, following studies at the Institute of Microsurgery of the Eye in Moscow (USSR), together with Prof. Fyodorov, he specializes in the following:
-Radial Keratotomy for myopia and myotic astigmatism
-Radial Keratocoagulation for hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism.
Dr. Abbondanza is one of very few western doctors having these specializations, granted him by the Health Ministry of the Union of the Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR).
During his studies in Moscow, Dr. Abbondanza has been trained by Prof. Dr. Fyodorov, internationally regarded as “the Father of Eye Microsurgery”.
In 1989 he specializes in General Pathology at the Sapienza University of Rome.
In 1994 he specializes in Opthalmology, released by the “Italian Medical Association”, ref. n. 11531 dated 11th July 1994.
In 1997 he completes two Masters in Post-University Specialization in Ophthalmic Techniques in Invasive Surgery and Ophthalmic Techniques in Non-Invasive Surgery at the Research and Post-University Centre in the Academy of Art History of Health at the Saspienza University of Rome.
Dr. Abbondanza, therefore, holds multiple medical and surgical specialties in different medical fields, a rare and extremely useful condition in order to fully understand the medical conditions of his international patients.
RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW SURGICAL TECNIQUES
Since 1984 performs medical treatments and innovative surgery for cataract, glaucoma, retinal diseases and strabismus.
Since 1988
- studies new methods of correctional surgery in keratoconus , whereas to avoid corneal transplant or put off this surgery as long as possible in more advanced cases.
- takes part in numerous international and national conventions as speaker, author and co-author, relating his innovative theories which have since been used by many colleagues around the world.
- performs the first surgery for hyperopia in Europe introducing Radial Keratocoagulation in the Continent
From 1984 to 1996, together with a team of Italian physicians, he studies and develops a new surgical technique capable of correcting visual impairments caused by keratoconus and halting the evolution of this pathology.
From 1987 to 1996 nearly 500 eyes suffering stages I, II and III of keratoconus have undergone surgery using this method. Among these, only about 10 will need keratoplastic surgery. Those that had corneal transplant belonged to the III stage.
Later, the “ARK” technique, Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy, was only used for eyes suffering I and II stages of keratoconus.
Since 1987 he performs Radial Keratotomy (RK) incisional surgery, a safe technique to correct light and medium levels of myopia.
Following many years of discussion on the effectiveness of this technique in times of laser surgery, his belief is confirmed by the influential opinion of Dr. Lindstom and Dr. George Waring III, who see Radial Keratotomy as a safe, deft and efficient technique.
In 1989, he introduces in Italy PRK and the Excimer Laser to correct high levels of myopia and myopic astigmatism, together with a team of colleagues.
In 1992 he takes part in planning the 1st theoretical and practical Worldwide Course for Laser and Excimeri users held in Rome.
In 1993, he develops a new surgical technique, the Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy, Mini ARK, capable of halting the evolution of stage I and II of keratoconus, even when dealing with emmetropic and hyperopic eyes. In the same year, he develops a new surgical instrument in order to perform Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy interventions, known as a ‘double concentric corneal marker‘.
Since 1994, many Italian and international colleagues have been using this technique with excellent results both on the side of the surgeons and the patients. Today Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy is a well-known technique and its validity is popularized by a number of centers in different countries (Italy, France, Germany, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Hungary, China).
Since 1995 he uses Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy on post-penetrating keratoplastic eyes (corneal transplant) which were affected by high levels of post-operative astigmatism.
Today, his constant use of incisional techniques has made him one of the few and most reliable incisional surgeons in eye surgery, where manual skills and an ability to produce an operative program are essential in producing a positive outcome.
In 1998 he takes part as speaker at the I.S.R.S. convention in New Orleans where he outlines new guidelines in the use of Mini ARK.
In the same year, at the annual A.P.I.M.O. convention (Italian Professional Medical Association of Ophthalmologists), Mini ARK is recognized as a valid method of treatment in the early stages of keratoconus.
In 2000 he operates in the application of prosthesis for pressure control in glaucoma and is one of the firsts to implant phakic intraocular lenses for elevated levels of myopia and hyperopia with iridal fixation.
In 2003 he qualifies to perform implantation of pseudo-accomodative intra ocular lens for the joint correction of both presbyopia and cataract.
In 2005 he is the first to introduce in Italy Corneal Cross-linking (CXL), a parasurgical technique with the aim of strengthening the cornea in patients with keratoconus in initial and moderate stage. Dr. Abbondanza has been one of the very first surgeons to use Corneal Cross-linking outside Germany and obtained official certifications were the technique was conceived, in Dresda, Germany, and in Zurich, Switzerland.
In the same year, he modifies and enhances the “Mini ARK” technique, which is now known as MARK, and is the first to combine it with Corneal Cross-linking.
In 2006 he qualifies to perform insertion of ARTIFLEX soft and flexible lenses, for the correction of sever myopia and hyperopia, which cannot be corrected with excimer laser.
In 2007 he develops a novel technique, Peripheral Corneal Cross-linking (P-CXL), aimed at treating stage-III and stage-IV keratoconus with ultra-thin corneas. The results have been published by a number of scientific papers.
In 2016 a new clinical study by Dr. Abbondanza and his team is published, which showed that Dr. Abbondanza’s MARK + CXL combined protocol, knows as the “Rome Protocol”, produces an average reduction in corneal curvature of 3,7D and a significant decrease of corneal aberrations, along with the halting of the disease itself.
Since 2016 he is in the scientific board of 360 Gradi in Oftalmologia News, a scientific magazine specialising in ophthalmology.
Dr. Abbondanza and his conference in Australia
In 2017 he is invited to present his own conference at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), which was attended by ophthalmic surgeons, academics, orthoptists, statisticians and journalists.
In 2017 he receives a certificate of merit from the Dante Alighieri Society Sydney, for his support to the society’s scientific activities.
Since 2017 he is cooperating with the University of Sydney (USyd) – Save Sight Registries, SSR – with the aim of improving international research on keratoconus. Dr. Abbondanza is the 1st in Italy to establish such a research agreement.
In 2018 he is named one of the most prominent figures born in Naples, with a chapter on him published in a book written by historian Giovanni Liccardo.
Dr. Abbondanza is also member of several research groups developing both medical and surgical treatments for eye diseases.
All these years of research and development of new surgical techniques, made Dr. Marco Abbondanza one of the leading experts on keratoconus and keratoconus conservative surgery, as well as a prominent expert of the anterior chamber of the eye (eyesight defects, cataract, corneal pathologies).
Dr. Abbondanza is frequently consulted by international patients as well as fellow doctors and surgeons from different countries.
Dr. Abbondanza is listed in “Who is Who in Italy” and in “Who is Who in the World” and has been interviewed by the most infuential TV shows, magazines and scientific journals in his position of leading MD, ophthalmologist and eye microsurgeon.
SELECT SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS:
In this section we show Dr. Abbondanza’s scientific studies, published by major international journals and cited as a reference, for other scientific studies, by a number of ophthalmologists and other MDs from around the world. Select a publication to read it.
• Cheratotomia Radiale in miopie elevate, Acta Medica Latina, vol. 9, no. 1. 1986
• Cheratotomia Radiale per miopie elevate, L’uomo e la Medicina, vol. 4, no.2. 1988
• La Cheratocoagulazione Radiale, La Stampa Medica Europea, vol. 8, no. 2. 1988
• Correzione Chirurgica del Cheratocono, EUR Medicina, vol. 7, no.2. 1991
• Correzione Chirurgica del Cheratocono tramite Cheratotomia Radiale Asimmetrica, Rivista di Oftalmologia Sociale, vol. 15, no.2. 1992
• Aesthesiometry of the cornea after refractive corneal surgery, Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde, vol. 201, no. 4, pp. 221-223. 1992
• Corneal sensitivity after refractive surgery, European Journal of Implant and Refractive Surgery, vol. 6, no. 6, pp. 319-323. 1994
• Hornhautreinnervation nach lamellärer Keratoplastik im Vergleich zu Epikeratophakie und photorefraktiver Keratektomie, Der Ophthalmologe. 1994
• Corneal reinnervation after lamellar keratoplasty in comparison with epikeratophakia and photorefractive keratectomy, Der Ophthalmologe: Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft, vol. 91, no. 5, pp. 632-637. 1994
• Una nuova metodica di studio computerizzato dell’haze corneale conseguente a fotoablazione con laser ad eccimeri, La Nuova Stampa Medica Italiana, vol. 14, no. 1. 1994
• Histologische Untersuchungen eines lamellären Hornhautscheibchens 4 Monate nach Excimerlaserablation, 8. Kongreß der Deutschsprachigen Gesellschaft für Intraokularlinsen Implantation (capitolo di libro / book chapter by Springer), pp. 569-573. 1994
• Corneal Sensitivity after Refractive Surgery, Ohthalmic Literature, vol. 48, no. 3, p. 178. 1995
• Mini Cheratotomia Radiale Asimmetrica (Mini ARK) per la correzione chirurgica del cheratocono in fase iniziale, nell’ipermetropia e nelle miopie lievi, Esperienze, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 21-24. 1997
• Refractive Changes Following CXL, Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today Europe, vol. 4, no. 7, pp. 33-38. 2009
• Corneal Collagen Cross-linking in a Prepubescent 10-Year-Old Girl with Aggressive Keratoconus, International Journal of Keratoconus and Ectatic Corneal Diseases, vol. 4, no. 2, 63-65. 2015
• Surgical Correction of an Inverse Astigmatic Keratotomy following Penetrating Keratoplasty in a Patient with Keratoconus, International Journal of Keratoconus and Ectatic Corneal Diseases, vol. 4, no. 3, 107-109. 2015
• Combined Corneal Collagen Cross-linking and Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy for the Treatment of Keratoconus, Acta Medica International, vol. 3, no. 1, 63-68. 2016
• Il cheratocono tra presente e futuro, 360 gradi in Oftalmologia, vol. 2, no. 5, 5-8. 2016
• ESCRS 2018: conferme e novità da Vienna, 360 gradi in Oftalmologia, vol. 4, no. 9, p. 50. 2018
Rome (Italy) 1994
Minneapolis (USA) 1995
Cape Town (South Africa) 1995
Atlanta (USA) 1995
Chicago (USA) 1996
La Habana (Cuba) 1996
Orlando (USA) 1997
New Orleans (USA) 1998
L’Aquila (Italy) 2000 SITRAC congress (Italian Society of Corneal Transplantation)
Vienna (Austria) 2023: ESCRS congress, with Australiani, Spanish, and French colleagues
New Orleans (USA) 2023: ARVO congress, with Australian and Spanish colleagues
Sydney (Australia) 2023: RANZCO congress, with Australian, New Zealand, and French colleagues
Bali (Indonesia) 2024: APAO congress, with Australian colleagues
Dr. Marco Abbondanza, Italian ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, is a member of the following professional and scientific organizations:
ISRS – International Society of Refractive Surgery
ESCRS – European Society of Catararact and Refractive Surgeons
AAO – American Academy of Ophthalmology
ASCRS – American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
SOI – Società Oftalmologica Italiana
AIMO – Associazione Italiana Medici Oculisti
APIMO – Associazione Professionale Italiana dei Medici Oculisti
ASOC – Autocertificazione Studi Oculistici in Community
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