AIM: To determine the content of plasminogen and urokinase activator of plasminogen in tears and blood serum and to identify correlations between the studied parameters and the clinical picture of uveitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-three eyes with uveitis were examined in 74 patients aged 3 to 17 yr (average 10.453.35 yr). The content of the urokinase activator of plasminogen (UPA) was studied in 188 tear samples and 22 blood serum samples. The dynamics of UPA in tears were studied in 28 patients (51 eyes). The plasminogen content of 86 tear samples and 34 blood serum samples was studied. The dynamics of plasminogen in tears were studied in five patients (nine eyes). The concentrations of UPA and plasminogen were measured using the ELISA method and the kits ELISA kit for plasminogen activator, urokinase (UPA)/ELISA Kit for Plasminogen, Cloud-Clone Corp., USA). RESULTS: An increase in the content of UPA in the tears of children with uveitis was associated with higher inflammatory activity (p=0.04). An increase in the content of UPA in tears was associated with an increase in the degree of proliferative changes (p=0.04). An increase in the content of UPA and plasminogen in tears was found 12 months after surgery. There was an increase in the content of UPA (p=0.0001) and plasminogen in tears (p=0.009) and blood serum (p=0.09) with age. CONCLUSION: The content of UPA in tears increased significantly when severe uveitis was compared with inactive uveitis. An increase in the content of UPA in tears was associated with an increase in the degree of proliferative changes, which reflects the severity of the uveitis course. The content of UPA and plasminogen in tears and blood serum increased with age. An increase in UPA and plasminogen was observed within 12 months after surgery, with both returning to preoperative values by the third month of the postoperative period, which reflects the normal course of the wound healing process.

AIM: This study aimed to determine the content of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the aqueous humor (AH) of the eyes in children with uveitis and its role during the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty children (20 eyes with uveitis) aged from 3 to 16 yr (11.253.43 yr on average) and three children with congenital cataract from the control group were examined. The concentration of MMP-9 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the ELISA kit for MMP-9 (Cloud-Clone Corp, USA). The optical density of the samples was measured using a multifunctional photometer for Synergy microplates (BioTek, USA). RESULTS: Children with uveitis had a higher content of MMP-9 in the AH than children in the control group (p=0.006). An increase in the content of MMP-9 in the AH of the eyes was correlated with an increase in the degree of proliferative changes in the eye. CONCLUSION: The concentration of MMP-9 in the AH of the eyes correlates with the severity of proliferation, and its measurement can be used to assess the severity of the inflammatory process in the eye.

Despite dominant lung lesions, new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) can influence almost any organ, including eyes. According to modern data, frequency of eye damage by COVID-19 reaches 32%, and spectrum of clinical manifestations is diverse. Changes are observed both in the anterior (mainly conjunctivitis) and posterior (mostly retinal vascular thrombosis, optic neuritis, neuroretinitis) segments of the eye, and the timing of their occurrence varies from the first (sometimes the only) clinical symptoms of the disease to the development at the peak or during the period of convalescence from COVID-19. In children symptomatic COVID-19 infection is diagnosed less frequently than in adults, and ophthalmic manifestations are less investigated. This article describes a case of bilateral neuroretinovasculitis in a 17-year-old girl with a mild course of COVID-19, that arose 3 weeks after the onset of the disease, which broadens the understanding of ocular manifestations of COVID-19 in children. We emphasize that an ophthalmologist should know ocular manifestations of COVID-19, which can help in the diagnosis and further study of the frequency and spectrum of ophthalmic symptoms, especially in children

Aim: This study aimed to assess the functional and anatomical results of subtenon triamcinolone injections in children with retinitis pigmentosa (PR) and cystic macular edema (CME), refractory to local carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Material and methods: We examined 11 children (9 girls, 2 boys) aged 9 to 17 years who underwent subtenon injections of triamcinolone (22 eyes). The follow-up period ranged from 1.6 to 33.1 months (average 9.711.6 months), the number of triamcinalone injections ranged from 1 to 11, averaging 3. Before and after injection, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the thickness and structure of the retina in the macular zone (optical coherence tomography [OCT] was performed by using the NIDEK RS-3000, Japan or the Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were assessed. Results: The CME height at the end of the observation period decreased in 10 cases (45.5%), and the average central retinal thickness decreased from 70 to 594 m (on average, 219.1183.4 m). In 12 eyes (54.5%), the CME height at the end of the observation period did not change significantly. BCVA improved in two eyes (9.1%) and did not change in the other cases. Two children (18%) developed ophthalmic hypertension in both eyes after two injections of triamcinalone. In one child, IOP returned to normal on the background of hypothetical therapy. In another child, due to non-compensation of IOP at the maximum hypotensive mode, sinus trabeculectomy was performed in both eyes, and IOP normalization was achieved. Conclusion: Subtenon injection of triamcinolone in children with CME against a background of PR is in most cases is an effective and safe method of treatment and can be recommended if carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are ineffective at reducing/ resorbing edema and maintaining or improving visual function. Considering that the action of triamcinolone is short lived, and its repeated injection is required, and the resorption of CME and an increase in visual acuity are not always achievable, it is necessary to continue the search for more effective treatment methods.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetically determined degenerative retinal disease characterized by primary progressive degeneration of rod and secondary degeneration of cone photoreceptors. Despite the fact that the central retinal zone remains relatively intact for a long time, the most common complication of RP is macular edema (ME). The causes of ME in patients with RP have not been finally established, and treatment approaches are controversial. This article presents the modern data on the pathogenesis, clinical aspects, diagnostic, and treatment methods of ME associated with RP.

Uveitis is the most common extraarticular manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA); if not diagnosed and treated in time, it can lead to severe complications and loss of vision. This report describes a novel algorithm for screening, treating, and monitoring uveitis in children with JIA. Ophthalmic screening of children with JIA is based on individual risk factors for uveitis. Treatment strategies include use of local glucocorticoids at the initial stage, followed by non-biological and then biological immunosuppressive drugs in severe or refractory cases. Therapy initiation and discontinuation schemes are detailed, and the need for further research is emphasized.