Use of Alternative Biological Models for Eye Irritation Testing by Chemical Substances
Keywords:
eye irritation, in vitro methods, biological models, alternative methods, opacity and permeability test, chorioallantoic membraneAbstract
Chemicals may cause eye irritation or damage and the knowledge of this potential is mandated by the chemical legislation. The article provides an overview of alternative biological models used in ex vivo and in vitro eye irritation testing, which is gradually replacing animal tests. Advantages and disadvantages in laboratory use are defined for the models and compared to the classical model in vivo. Organotypic models using isolated eyes of farm animals or fertilized eggs have proved to be very promising. Alternative models use only one part of the eye and therefore are not able to yield the same response as an in vivo test.