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303.202.0669
303.202.0669
303.202.0669
Co-Founder & CEO, 20/20 Institute
Pioneering Visionary in Refractive Surgery
Dr. Mark S. Danzo, O.D., is one of America’s foremost authorities on the LASIK and refractive surgery patient experience, recognized for more than 35 years of pioneering contributions to the field. As Co-Founder and CEO of 20/20 Institute, Dr. Danzo has dedicated his life to advancing the patient journey in surgical vision correction—passionately blending clinical innovation with a patient-centered, concierge experience that has helped tens of thousands achieve visual freedom.
Dr. Danzo’s expertise is built on a foundation of rigorous academic training and decades of real-world accomplishment. He earned his B.S. in Biology from the State University of New York at Cortland and his Doctorate of Optometry from the prestigious New England College of Optometry. He launched his career on the front lines of refractive surgery, experiencing the emergence and evolution of LASIK firsthand.
Over his distinguished career, Dr. Danzo has personally co-managed over 30,000 refractive procedures—including LASIK and PRK—placing him among the most experienced optometrists in the United States. As a recipient of laser vision correction himself, Dr. Danzo deeply understands the transformative journey his patients undergo—empathy that informs every aspect of care at 20/20 Institute.
An internationally respected educator and consultant, Dr. Danzo has trained and lectured at more than 1,000 ophthalmology and optometric practices worldwide, from Frankfurt to Sydney. He is a sought-after speaker at leading ophthalmic conferences, where he shares insights on clinical excellence, visionary patient care, and practice management. Dr. Danzo is widely published in optometric and ophthalmic trade journals, and is the author of foundational texts—including Marketing and Managing your Refractive Surgery Venture, published by the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA). His work has shaped how leading practices deliver LASIK care with integrity, transparency, and a relentless focus on patient outcomes.
Committed to raising the bar for results-based medicine, Dr. Danzo led 20/20 Institute to become Denver’s first—and only—center offering the comforting “20/20 Vision or It’s Free LASIK Commitment,” making clinical excellence and accountability the foundation of every patient relationship. Under his leadership, the Institute publishes its visual outcome statistics openly—demonstrating a 99.67% success rate for patients achieving 20/20 vision or better, a rare standard of honesty and trust in eye care.
Inspired early in life by his personal vision limitations presenting an obstacle to his dream of becoming a pilot, Dr. Danzo was interested in learning what could knock down barriers for others that were experiencing such vision limitations. He reimagined what LASIK care could—and should—be. After a decade of international consulting, he founded 20/20 Institute in 2004 with Dr. Britt Buckley, M.D., creating a collaborative, multidisciplinary center solely focused on refractive surgery. Dr. Danzo pioneered a “concierge LASIK” model—combining state-of-the-art technology with five-star hospitality, drawing inspiration from the Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and Nordstrom to create an experience where every patient is treated as a VIP. This approach is lived daily by a highly trained team and is reinforced by a unique practice culture where everyone recites the mission statement from memory—underscoring their promise to provide the world’s best vision correction.
Moreover, Dr. Danzo ensures patients have direct access to him—every LASIK patient at 20/20 Institute receives access to his personal mobile number for care 24/7/365, an unprecedented level of support that best exemplifies his commitment to patient well-being.
Dr. Danzo’s philosophy is unwavering: the best interest of the patient always comes first. His rigorous approach to ensuring that the 20/20 Institute preoperative evaluation uses advanced diagnostic technology not found in many LASIK clinics, ensuring only appropriate candidates proceed—safeguarding visual health for the long term. If LASIK is not optimal for a patient, Dr. Danzo and his team offer clear, compassionate recommendations for alternatives.
This ethic of transparency, accountability, and mutual respect sets the 20/20 Institute apart and has earned its reputation as Denver’s trusted leader in vision correction. Patients and peers alike consistently describe life-changing extraordinary experiences under Dr. Danzo’s care—a testament to his relentless pursuit of quality and his authentic, personal connection to each patient’s goals.
Dr. Danzo’s leadership radiates far beyond his own institute. As author, educator, and mentor to eye care professionals worldwide, he continues to drive innovation and elevate standards for the entire industry. He champions transparency by sharing outcome data, fosters a culture of continuous improvement at 20/20 Institute, and inspires new generations of optometrists and ophthalmologists to put patients first.
Above all, Dr. Danzo remains driven by the mission that set him on this path: helping as many people as possible experience the liberating joy of clear, glasses-free vision—and doing so with clinical excellence, compassion, and trust.
To learn more about Dr. Danzo’s approach, connect with him at 20/20 Institute’s official website or explore his published works through the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators. For details about the “20/20 or It’s Free Commitment,” visit this page.
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