A Surgical Approach for Optic Nerve Crush in a Rabbit Model

Optic nerve crush (ONC) is an experimental technique used to model and study the mechanisms of optic neuropathies and potential therapeutic interventions. ONC studies have predominantly utilized rodent models; however, these models exhibit notable anatomical and physiological differences from humans, potentially limiting translatability. Here, we describe the surgical technique to achieve ONC model in rabbits, a species with globe dimensions more similar to human eyes. The developed surgical technique utilizes ophthalmic surgical techniques used in strabismus and oculoplastic surgeries and does not require the creation of bone windows or canthotomies. The model was validated through assessments of pupillary response under different lighting conditions and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) pre- and post-ONC. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in both pupillary response and VEP amplitude in the ONC eyes, compared to untreated contralateral eyes, indicating loss of visual function after injury, as expected. This surgical technique may provide models for exploring optic nerve injuries and testing potential therapeutic strategies, with broader implications for understanding and treating ocular neurodegenerative diseases.