Animals are kept unconscious with an anaesthetic during such operations. It is used for testing new medicines and other compounds for possible irritant effects on the eyes. It forewarns us of the dangers to our eyes at home or work. The test involves applying a small amount of a substance to the eye of the rabbit to test for inflammation. Its effect is then carefully watched.
Testing stops immediately if a reaction is seen.
Only relatively mild substances are subject to the Draize test. Products which have been shown to be corrosive to the skin are never tested on rabbits' eyes. While scientists have managed to modify this rarely used test, as yet no reliable alternative has been found. This was filmed at an American defence research institute during the Second World War some 50 years ago. At that time many pilots and aircrew were dying from burns to as little as 5 per cent of their body surface.