Nictitating Membrane Removal: A Surgical Procedure to Remove Nictitating Membrane from Rabbit Eye
Transcript
Begin with a restrained rabbit and add a topical anesthesia solution to the target eye for temporary sedation. Gently insert a wire speculum between the eyelids to reveal the underlying nictitating membrane – the third eyelid. The nictitating membrane is a thin, transparent membrane at the corner of the eye that draws across it, protecting it against foreign particles and moistening it.
Using forceps, grasp the membrane from its apex and pull it over the cornea. Now, take a syringe filled with epinephrine solution and inject it into the subconjunctival space between the conjunctiva and sclera. Remove the wire speculum and forceps. Allow the solution to circulate briefly.
Epinephrine solution provides a fluid interface between the cornea and the nictitating membrane. It also causes a drop in the eye pressure, resulting in a bleb over the nictitating membrane. Place the wire speculum back into the eye. Gently grasp the nictitating membrane. Using surgical scissors, make a radial cut along the membrane's base to excise it.
Remove the wire speculum. Add an antibiotic solution to prevent any infection. Allow the eye to stabilize. Eventually, the isolated nictitating membrane and rabbit's eye can be used for further experiments.
