Development of eye-only exposure chamber for environmental eye disease research

초록

Environmental disease is a disease caused by environmental factors such as physical, chemical, and biological factors, and it is recognized that there is a correlation between environmentally harmful factors and disease through epidemiological investigation. In the case of respiratory diseases, nonclinical studies using animal test chambers as well as statistical analysis have been performed. On the other hands, recent studies have shown that the incidence of environmental eye disease tends to increase gradually, but most studies are primarily based on statistical analysis using correlation analysis between pollutants and eye diseases. Environmental eye diseases are caused by atmospheric environmental factors such as yellow dust and fine dust, and it has been believed that it leads to dry eye syndrome and allergic conjunctivitis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of air pollutants on ocular diseases using animal test chambers in case of environmental eye diseases (OECD Guideline 403/412, EPA OPPTS 870.1300.) to supplement the existing ophthalmic toxicity assessment method (i.e. eye dropping methods), which is different from actual exposure. The equipment developed in this study was produced in accordance with GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) test equipment validation procedure and all procedures and results were documented and verified to be suitable for animal experiments. This study was funded by the Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) as ‘‘the Environmental Health Action Program(2016001360005)”