Performing Injection into Palpebral Portion of the Superior Lacrimal Gland: A Technique for Inducing Dry Eye Disease in Rabbit Model

For palpebral portioning of the superior lacrimal gland injection, after confirming sedation, shear off the fur in the pre-orbital and scalp area, and use depilatory cream to completely remove any residual fur.

After 2 minutes, remove the cream and apply 25 microliters of 1% preservative-free lidocaine to the appropriate eye. Evert the upper eyelid, and apply gentle medial pressure to the posterior orbital rim until the protuberance marking the palpebral portion of the gland is seen. Using fine-toothed forceps and a tuberculin syringe equipped with a 27-Gauge needle, directly penetrate the gland via a transconjunctival approach advancing the needle two millimeters into the tissue, and inject 100 microliters of a 500 microgram solution of concanavalin A or ConA.