Ocular toxicology: the Draize eye test.
OBJECTIVE
Superficial ocular tissues are frequently exposed to damage produced by chemical compounds applied on or around the ocular surface for cosmetic, therapeutic or accidental reasons. An experimental test measuring objectively and in a reproducible way any potential damaging effect would certainly help in prospectively minimizing unwanted effects. The Draize eye test, although commonly employed to date, does not seem to be quite satisfactory in this respect.


RESULTS
The limits of the Draize eye test and the results of some modified versions of the test are analysed. In particular, the good predictivity of the so-called low-volume Draize eye test and the recent findings of studies on the in-vitro and ex-vivo alternatives to the Draize eye test are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
The Draize eye test, despite criticisms, has been used in the clinical setting for a long time and still remains the reference protocol. To date, only a combination of alternative methods, none of which is devoid of serious criticisms, seems to be able to exhaustively recognize potential irritants and avoiding for that purpose, in some cases, the use of living animals.
Secchi
Antonio
A
University of Padova, Padova, Italy. antonio.secchi@unipd.it
Deligianni
Velika
V
D000818:Animals; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009915:Orbit / Q000187:drug effects*; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D003358:Cosmetics; D007509:Irritants