Encyclopedia of Experiments: Biology
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Anterior Eye Segment Dissection - ExperimentTranscript
The vertebrate eye is divided into the anterior segment - situated ahead of the lens - and the posterior segment - situated behind the lens. The anterior segment contains the cornea, aqueous humor, iris, ciliary body, and lens; while the posterior segment contains the vitreous humor, retina, choroid, and the optic nerve. The anterior segment can be cultured to study pathophysiology of ocular disorders.
To dissect the anterior segment from an animal model, begin with a freshly isolated porcine eye. Remove the extra-orbital tissue from the eye and wash with antibiotic-supplemented buffer. Place the eye over a sterile, antibiotic-soaked gauze to prevent contamination of the eye.
Using a scalpel, incise the eye near the equator region to open the corneoscleral shell - fibrous and vascular layer. Use curved scissors to isolate the anterior segment from the posterior eye portion. Carefully flip the anterior eye segment. Then, scoop out the vitreous humor and remove the lens.
Excise the iris radially towards the iris roots to reveal the trabecular meshwork - a pigmented tissue through which aqueous humor drains out of the eye. Remove the traces of the ciliary body, leaving a thin tissue band. Wipe the cornea with a wet cotton swab to remove the residual pigment. The anterior eye segment can now be cultured for further experiments.
