Good Morning Cheryl,
A couple of thoughts on your questions:
I would push for Davidson's as a fix and then hand dehydrate the entire
globe up to 100% EtOH, before you cut it in half. The ethanol's will harden
the globe as well as the zonules that hold the lens in place. You should
then be able to gross the eye in the plane that you need and everything
should stay nicely in place. I have done this with very young eyes that were
suspect for Shaken Baby and the orientation  of the lens was critical for
evidence purpose. It is time consuming but worth the time. Also Davidson's
is the only way to go for good lens cutting, not always an option in a
Surgical Pathology setting but really the best. If I can be of any help feel
free to contact me, I have often enjoyed your workshops at NSH and would
love to reciprocate in the knowledge exchange!
Mary Georger
University of Rochester Center for Cardiovascular Research
> ----------
> From: 	Cheryl Crowder
> Sent: 	Thursday, August 23, 2001 4:58 PM
> To: 	histonet
> Subject: 	Eyes - lenses
> 
> Hello - I have a question for all of you who work with eyes.  We are 
> doing a study with canine eyes and cataracts.  We have to keep the 
> orientation of the lens in the eye during processing.  The eyes have been 
> cut in half and the half with the lens is processed and embedded.  The 
> problem we have been running into with some (not all) of the eyes is that 
> during processing the lens moves.  Any ideas on how to keep it 
> stationary?  As the eyes are half width, we use deep processing 
> cassettes.  The researcher does not want to cut the eyes any thinner.  
>      Also, they are presently fixing the eyes in 10% NBF and we are 
> processing rather much like Anne described yesterday.  Now the researcher 
> wants to use Zenker's.  I have vetoed this and have suggested Davidson's 
> which we have used with success in other eye projects.  Any opinions on 
> fixatives you like?  Tried and true doesn't seem to be the order for 
> some.  The researcher wants better initial penetration and something that 
> will harden the eye and keep the lens from cracking.
>      Any ideas or opinions will be appreciated.
> Cheryl
> 
>    
>     
> Cheryl Crowder, BA, HTL(ASCP)
> Chief Technologist
> Department of Pathobiological Sciences
> School of Veterinary Medicine
> Louisiana State University
> Baton Rouge, LA  70803
> 
> (225) 578-9734
> FAX  (225) 578-9720
> 
> 
> 
>