Toxicologist John Draize, 65 years ago, invented the “rabbit test” as a standard for measuring eye damage when exposed to chemical agents. The rabbits are held in a brace preventing them from moving their bodies or heads for 21 days or longer after the chemical has been introduced into their eyes. The eyes are then evaluated for redness, corneal damage, structural changes and alterations in the anterior section of the eyes. The animals are then useless to the researchers since the eyes have been compromised.

This practice subjects the rabbits to pain and suffering and treats them like disposable tissues. It is a terrible, heartless method that demonstrates a total lack of respect for other living creatures that feel pain and fear as much as we do. Fortunately, there is an alternative method utilizing cow and chicken corneas from dead animals. This procedure has been approved by both the US and Europe. The dead tissues are exposed to the same irritants and studies instead of the live subjects. There is NO pain and NO suffering!

According to Thomas Hartung who is director of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing at John’s Hopkins University, the Draize eye test should become history as this and other alternative become available. The germ killing cleaning products no longer have to be tested on live rabbit eyes to see if they are safe.

We as humans have an obligation to safeguard the safety of animals. They are at our mercy and using them for this kind of testing shows a lack of respect for other life. We must employ methods that do not put animals at risk and expose them to pain. Only lab tests should be permitted and when safety and efficacy have been determined then human volunteers can be used. Animal testing never gives us the actual response anyway, so why torture these poor living creatures.