This protocol shows how to consistently excise planarian eyes (optic cups) without disturbing surrounding tissues. Using an insulin needle and syringe, either one or both eyes can be ablated to facilitate investigations into the mechanisms regulating eye regeneration, the evolution of visual regeneration, and the neural basis of light-induced behavior.
Morton, J. M., Saad, M. A., Beane, W. S. Surgical Ablation Assay for Studying Eye Regeneration in Planarians. J. Vis. Exp. (122), e55594, doi:10.3791/55594 (2017).