The scientific achievements of the SI “The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine” have received further international recognition. The results of an experimental fundamental study conducted by the Institute’s researchers have been published in the peer-reviewed international journal Czech and Slovak Ophthalmology, one of the leading ophthalmological scientific publications  in Central Europe.

The article, “Effect of the ACE inhibitor zofenopril on the oxidative status of the eye in animals with experimental glaucoma” (I. Mikheytseva, S. Kolomiichuk, T. Siroshtanenko, N. Storozhuk, M. Kuznetsov, M. Alobaisi), was published in Czech and Slovak Ophthalmology (2026, Vol. 82, No. 4, pp. 205–212).

The study is fundamental in nature and focuses on identifying the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying ocular damage in glaucoma. The study investigated the effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor zofenopril on the course of experimental glaucoma, with particular emphasis on the modulation of oxidative stress, one of the key pathogenetic factors involved in ocular tissue damage.

The research was conducted under the supervision of Professor Irina Mykolaivna Mikheytseva, Head of the Laboratory of Fundamental Research in Biochemistry and Pathophysiology of the Eye at the SI “The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine.” The work was carried out by a team of researchers from the laboratory and served as further confirmation of the high standard of fundamental research conducted at the Filatov Institute.

To evaluate the therapeutic potential of zofenopril, the researchers used an experimental rabbit model of adrenaline-induced glaucoma. The animals received the drug for three months, after which changes in intraocular pressure, oxidative stress markers, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the retina, optic nerve, and ocular drainage system were analyzed. The results demonstrated the high biological activity of zofenopril and its ability to effectively protect eye tissues against oxidative damage.

The use of zofenopril made it possible to:

·       significantly reduce the signs of oxidative stress in the eye tissues;

·       reduce the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products and the level of free radicals;

·       restore the activity of key antioxidant enzymes responsible for protecting tissues from oxidative damage.

The effects observed are of significant fundamental importance, as they deepen new insights into the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of glaucoma and provide the possibility of pharmacological modulation of the relevant biochemical processes. The obtained data establish a scientific basis for further research aimed at developing neuroprotective approaches to glaucoma treatment and identify promising directions for translating fundamental research findings into clinical practice.

The publication of these results in an international peer-reviewed journal confirms the high scientific standard of the research carried out at the Filatov Institute and attests to the growing recognition of Ukrainian ophthalmological science by the global professional community. The significance of this publication is further enhanced by the status of Czech and Slovak Ophthalmology as the official scientific journal of the Czech and Slovak Ophthalmological Societies, which has been published continuously since 1933.

The SI “The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine” continues to advance both fundamental and applied research integrating modern experimental technologies, international standards of evidence-based medicine, and innovative approaches to investigating the pathogenesis of eye diseases. Each such publication strengthens the Institute’s international reputation and demonstrates the significant contribution of Ukrainian scientists to the advancement of global ophthalmology.

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