https://doi.org/10.31288/oftalmolzh201567374

In memory of Professor Alla A. Vatchenko

On the 26th of July died Alla Aleksieievna Vatchenko, Professor of Ophthalmology Department, Doctor of Science (Medicine), the Head of Society of Ophthalmology in Dnepropetrovsk region, boarding member of Ukrainian Association of Ophthalmologists.  

Alla VAtchenko was born on the 20th of December 1940. In 1963 she finished Department of General Medicine at Dnepropetrovsk Medical University and started working as a physician at the Ophthalmology Department in Mechnikov Hospital. She was a teaching assistant since 1967 and an associate professor since 1973 at the Eye Disease Department. In 1968 she passed defense for Candidate of Science (Medicine) on Anatomic and Optic Parametres of the Eye and their Meaning for Eye Surgery. In 1980 she completed doctoral dissertation on Pre-spasms of Accommodation in Acquired Myopia Pathogenesis and New Forms of its Prophylaxis and Treatment. In 1979 after Professor A.I.Dashevskii’s retirement, A.A. Vatchenko headed the Department. Her scientific work was related to refraction of the eye. 

The scientific work of the Department remained the same. There were carried out investigations on pathogenesis, clinic and treatment of myopia in children and adolescents. That was the topic of a monograph “Accommodation Spasm and Myopia” by A.A. Vatchenko (1977).

In 1979 the Department moved to a new building where together with Ophtalmology Department two eye clinic departments (60 beds for adults and 40 beds for children) and polyclinic were placed. The polyclinic also included Contact Lens Laboratory. The centre had fine conditions for studying in all faculties. 

Under the guidance of A.A. VAtchenco 11 defenses were passed to obtain the degree of a Candidate of Medical Science and 1 defense was for Doctor of Medicine Degree. There were published 215 scientific papers.

The medical work of the Department is connected closely to the development and implementation of new investigations of national and foreign science into the practical ophthalmology. In 1987 first in Ukraine the Department initiated the organization of Eye Microsurgery Department and Uveitis and Vascular Patholody Department that was supported by regional Health Care authority and Hospital administration. 

The management of Eye Care in the region is carried out by organizing scientific society of ophthalmologists, advanced training of the physicians, holding the conferences on the basis of the Department and in the towns of the region, and scientific collaboration.

A new organizing system of mass prophylaxis of myopia has been implemented into the ophthalmic practice in Ukraine that facilitates a decrease of myopia patients among schoolchildren. Besides clinical work in the hospital departments faculty members consult to 2.5-3 thousand patients a year.

Lately there have been published a manual “Therapeutic Ophthalmology” for high medical educational institution students and internship doctors under edition of G.D. Zhaboiedov and A.A. Vatchenko, a manual “Ophthalmology” for internship doctors and family doctors edited by A.A. Vatchenko and N.N.Timofeev and methodological recommendations on diagnosis and treatment for glaucoma and vascular pathology of the retina. 

Cherished memory of Alla Alekseevna will always be in the hearts of her family members, friends, colleagues and disciples.

Staff members of Neurology and Ophthalmology Department at SI “Dnepropetrovsk Medical Academy of Ministry of Health of Ukraine” and CI “Dnepropetrovsk regional clinic ophthalmic hospital”, ophthalmologists of Dnepropetrovsk region.