Marco Abbondanza

Marco Abbondanza (born June 27, 1953 - Naples, Italy) is an Italian medical doctor and eye surgeon, best known for his treatment of keratoconus.

Early life and studies

Born in Naples, he is the son of Osvaldo Abbondanza, the Italian engineer who also invented the Rotary keyboard punching machine.

Marco Abbondanza graduated in Medicine and Surgery at the Sapienza University of Rome in 1983 and holds both the General Pathology and Ophthalmology specializations from the same university. Following studies at the Institute of Microsurgery of the Eye in Moscow (USSR), together with the director Svyatoslav Fyodorov, he obtained other specializations. In 1997 he also completed two post-university masters in Ophthalmic Techniques of Invasive Surgery and Ophthalmic Techniques of Non-Invasive Surgery, from the Post-University Research Centre of the Sapienza University of Rome.

Medical career

In 1994 Abbondanza developed a new surgical technique, improved in 2005, called the Mini Asymmetric Radial Keratotomy (M.A.R.K.). It consists of a series of microincisions, from 1.75 to 2.25 millimeters, always made with a diamond knife, designed to cause a controlled scarring of the cornea, which changes its thickness and shape. This procedure, if done properly, is able to cure the astigmatism and the first and second stages of the keratoconus, avoiding the need for a cornea transplant. Abbondanza is also known for being an ambidexter surgeon.

Innovator in the treatment of myopia, astigmatism and cataract, Abbondanza introduced in Italy the excimer laser in the late '80s and contributed to the global wide spread of the cross-linking, parasurgical treatment for keratoconus, in the first years of 2000.