On 4 August 2026, the 95th anniversary of the birth of Svitlana Fedorivna Vasylieva (1931–2025)—Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, distinguished ophthalmic surgeon, outstanding scientist, educator, and one of the most prominent representatives of the Filatov School of Ophthalmology—is commemorated.

For more than forty years, Svitlana Fedorivna devoted her life to the V. P. Filatov Odesa Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy (now the SI "V. P. Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine"), where she developed into a world-class researcher, a brilliant surgeon and a leader who shaped the development of paediatric ophthalmology in Ukraine for decades to come.

Svitlana Fedorivna was born on 4 August 1931 in Odesa. In 1956, after graduating from the Odesa Medical Institute, she admitted the clinical residency programme at the V. P. Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy. She had the privilege of working under the direct supervision of Academician Volodymyr Petrovych Filatov during the final year of his life. This period proved decisive in shaping her professional outlook and scientific principles.

Svitlana Fedorivna's scientific mentor was Professor Volodymyr Yevhenovych Shevalov. Under his supervision, she completed her Candidate of Medical Sciences dissertation on the surgical treatment of retinal detachment, which she successfully defended in 1969. Even then, her work was distinguished by a high level of clinical analysis, practical value and a commitment to introducing new surgical techniques.

A new stage in her professional career began in 1970, when, at the the recommendation  of Academician Nadiia Oleksandrivna Puchkovska, Svitlana Fedorivna joined the Department of Pediatric Eye Pathology, headed by Professor Susanna Oleksandrivna Barkhash. It was there that her exceptional talent as a pediatric ophthalmic surgeon and healthcare administrator was fully realised.

For twelve years (1975–1986), Svitlana Fedorivna headed the Institute's Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology and served as Director of the Republican Center for Children's Vision Care. Owing to her initiative and scientific vision, pediatric ophthalmology in Ukraine advanced to an entirely new level.

Svitlana Fedorivna was the first in Ukraine to introduce endotracheal intubation anesthesia and nasopharyngeal anesthesia into  the practice of paediatric ophthalmic surgery. This innovation significantly expanded the possibilities of surgical treatment for children, including infants, and facilitated the introduction of modern microsurgical techniques and laser-based treatment methods.

She was also the first in Ukraine to develop and implement a technique for aspiration of cataracts and luxated lenses in children; She established a comprehensive system for the surgical treatment of pediatric retinal detachment, proposed a classification of its clinical forms, and developed a range of modern surgical techniques. These researches formed the basis of her doctoral dissertation, "Surgical Treatment of Retinal Detachment in Children and Ways to Improve Its Effectiveness," which she defended in 1984.

Professor Vasilyeva’s research interests covered virtually all the key areas of paediatric ophthalmic surgery: including the treatment of congenital cataracts and glaucoma, iris pathology, malignant tumours of the eye and orbit, as well as reconstructive and plastic surgery of the eyelids and orbit. The surgical techniques she developed substantially improved treatment outcomes for thousands of children.

Over the course of her distinguished scientific career, Svitlana Fedorivna authored 117 scientific publications, obtained 12 inventor's certificates, 3 patents for new surgical instruments, and introduced 29 rationalisation proposals. Under her supervision, five Candidate of Medical Sciences dissertations were successfully completed and defended, including dissertations by international researchers, reflecting the international recognition of her scientific school.

Even after concluding her active clinical career, Svitlana Fedorivna remained devoted to preserving the history and traditions of the Institute. She wrote  a series of memoirs dedicated to Academician Volodymyr Petrovych Filatov, Professor Volodymyr Yevhenovych Shevalov, and the history of Ukrainian ophthalmology. Among her most significant works is the book "Essays on Pediatric Eye Surgery," which she wrote while battling a serious illness, determined to pass on her invaluable experience to younger generations of ophthalmic surgeons.

On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the birth of Professor Svitlana Fedorivna Vasylieva, the staff of the SI "V. P. Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine" respectfully honours her life, her outstanding contribution to the development of pediatric ophthalmology, the Filatov scientific school, and Ukrainian medicine. Her name will forever remain in the history of the Filatov Institute as a symbol of professional dedication, innovation, and selfless service to humanity.

Sources

1. In Memory of Svitlana Fedorivna Vasylieva. Ophthalmological Journal. 2025; No. 5 (526): 71–72. DOI: 10.31288/oftalmolzh202557172.
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2. Moiseieva, N. M. "Vasylieva, Svitlana Fedorivna." Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine. Institute of Encyclopedic Research, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
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3. Bobrova, N. F., Tronina, S. A., Dembovetska, H. M., & Zhekov, A. K. A Journey of Achievement and Hope: On the 65th Anniversary of the Filatov Scientific School of Pediatric Ophthalmology. News of Medicine and Pharmacy. Ophthalmology. 2011.
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