Licia Melis
My name is Licia and I’m 29 years old. Four years ago, I began having problems with my eyesight which turned out to be astigmatism and hyperopia. I received my first pair of prescription glasses but rarely used them. A few months later, vision in my left eye worsened considerably. I went to a specialist and was diagnosed with keratoconus in this eye. I was given a hard contact lens but it caused so many problems that I was unable to use it. Unfortunately the ophthalmologist told me that since the lens plays an essential role in this pathology, the only alternative would be to undergo corneal transplant. I refused to accept either of these solutions since I was unable to tolerate wearing the lens and also because I feel that a transplant would bring on more suffering.
I decided to look for more information on keratoconus, hoping for a solution offering a high percentage of healing. I went to several private ophthalmologists in Sardinia but received no new information. Then I was given a lens from Holland to try but had to give it up and return to the first. One doctor suggested an operation in which small rings would be inserted in the cornea but the possibility of success was small.
Of course I refused this proposal. Unfortunately I was then diagnosed with the same pathology in my right eye. In the meantime vision in my left eye degenerated rapidly, while my right eye worsened at a slower pace. One afternoon while driving I realized that I couldn’t distinguish from a short distance whether there was an animal in the middle of the road or if it was simply a black bag. This frightened me so much that I decided I needed to quickly find a solution to this problem which had changed my life in so little time. I even tried to make an appointment with a public aid physician but there was a 6 month waiting list. I wanted to find out more about what was happening to my eyes and realized that the best and quickest way was through internet. Thanks to the help of some colleagues I found important information on keratoconus and was able to locate a doctor who for years had been successfully operating on patients with my same problem. I immediately got into contact with this doctor and after my first visit realized that this was just what I had been hoping to find. Two weeks later, Dr. Abbondanza operated on my left eye using his technique. My vision improved and a year later underwent smaller touch-up jobs.
Seeing the excellent results on my left eye, I decided to have my right eye operated as well. Two years have gone by since both operations were performed and I can see well without using prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. I go for regular check-ups and can now say that, thanks to Dr. Abbondanza, my well-being has been brought back in just one hour (the length of the two operations).
Licia Melis
I authorize Dr. Abbondanza to use my personal records in accordance with law n°675/96. “
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