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October 5, 2025, Professor Maurizio Rolando passed away.

Born in Genoa on April 19, 1950, he graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Genoa in 1975, where he specialized in Ophthalmology in 1979. After an initial scientific interest in glaucoma, the turning point in his research was his time at the Schepens Eye Research Institute in Boston and the Cornea Service of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard Medical School in 1981 and 1982, where he conducted important studies deepening his understanding of the physiopathological basis of Dry Eye disease. One of his most important works was that on tear evaporation, described for the first time in an experimental study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology (now JAMA Ophthalmology). During this period, he earned acclaim and established strong friendships with the most important scientists of the day, with whom he remained in contact for lifelong scientific collaborations.
After returning from Boston, he continued his research at the University of Genoa, initially as a Researcher and, from 2000, as an Associate Professor.
His scientific activity also included participation in key international study groups: from the National Eye Institute's 1995 study, which laid the foundation for the definition of dry eye disease, to the Delphi panel that defined its first clinical classification, to the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society's Dry Eye Workshop, which led to the identification of the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of dry eye disease. Over 200 publications in the most prestigious journals in our field, including in collaboration with leading international colleagues, testify to the prestige he enjoyed.
His contribution was also fundamental to the founding of prestigious scientific societies, including the Society of University Ophthalmologists (hosting the first meeting of the founding group in Genoa, together with Professor Calabria), the Italian Society of Uveitis and Inflammatory Ocular Diseases (SIUMIO), the Italian Society of Dacryology and Ocular Surface Diseases (SIDSO). He was also a founding member and, until today, Vice President of the European Dry Eye Society (EuDES), one of the most important international societies in the field.

During his career, he received numerous awards and recognitions for his consistent scientific contributions to the understanding of the physiopathological, diagnostic, and therapeutic mechanisms of dry eye disease.

But beyond his scientific interests, Professor Rolando was an eclectic man with a wide range of cultural interests, including Modern and Contemporary Art, of which he was thoroughly familiar, allowing him to have an open-minded view of the world and its evolution. Having him as a guide on the inevitable visits to the world's most important museums was an unparalleled experience for those fortunate enough to accompany him.
What most distinguished Professor Rolando, however, was his immense elegance, which, combined with a great sense of humor, made him an exceptional companion and a constant point of reference.
I believe that Professor Rolando, with his expertise, his unparalleled savoir faire, and his elegance, will be missed by the entire national and international ophthalmology community, and I certainly feel the loss of a professional and human reference point.

Pasquale Aragona

Maurizio Rolando

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