Special senses: Eye and ear

Abstract

Ophthalmic toxicology is a broad topic that involves in silico, in vitro, and in vivo preclinical testing as a method of predicting potential clinical toxicity (Hockwin et al. 1991; Somps et al. 2009). Routine ophthalmic examination involves direct ophthalmoscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and slit lamp biomicroscopy, which can detect the exact location of ocular changes (Bistner and Riis 1984; Kuiper et al. 1997; Munger 2002). To ensure a microscopic correlate, the pathologist must be aware of the route of ocular exposure and clinical ophthalmic findings at necropsy, trimming, and microscopic examination. Treatment-related findings need to be differentiated from artifacts, spontaneous changes, and iatrogenic findings, so histologic sections of good quality with proper orientation and minimal tissue artifacts are essential (Dubielzig et al. 2010; Short 2008, Whiteley and Peiffer 2002).