Diagnostic evaluation of the eye can be a rewarding experience for clinician and pathologist alike if a few cardinal rules of removal and fixation are followed. A good history with detailed results of the ophthalmic examination of the diseased eye prior to enucleation is invaluable. The type and location of a lesion within the eye should be recorded and can be supplemented with drawings, especially of the cornea, lens and retina, if pertinent. This will aid in the pathologist's localization of the lesion in the submitted globe. The intact globe should be placed in fixative as soon after removal as possible, as many structures (e.g the retina) undergo rapid autolysis. Some special fixatives such as Davidson's solution are preferable to formalin for fixation of intact globes. Davidson's solution rapidly penetrates the sclera for better fixation with fewer artifacts and softens the lens making it easier to section and evaluate. Adequate Davidson's solution for the submission of a canine or feline eye can be easily made by combining 30 ml 95% ethanol, 20 mlneutral buffered formalin, 10 ml glacial acetic acid, and 30 ml distilled water.

Each eye should be submitted in separate container with a large enough opening to ensure easy removal. It is important to leave at least 5 mm of optic nerve attached to the back of the globe to prevent the creation of an artifactual opening in the back of the globe. Do NOT cut holes in the sclera, or inject the globe with fixative as this will induce artifacts such as retinal detachment. It is advisable to remove all extraocular tissue such as glandular tissue, muscle and fat to allow penetration of the fixative. If histological examination of the extraocular tissue is desired, it can be submitted within the same container. Remember that the tissues should be submitted in at least 10 times their volume of fixative.

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