This test method evaluates the eye irritation elicited by a test substance when introduced into the eye of a rabbit. For terminology see Terminology Standards E 609 and E 943.

Results of testing by this test method can be used to estimate the potential for eye irritation or injury in humans when this material is accidentally introduced into the eye.

The dose volume of 0.01 mL is used because this amount provides a very good discrimination between sub-stances of moderate irritancy plus the ability to detect potentially severe irritants or corrosives.^{4 ,5}

The dose volume of 0.01 is only one-tenth the volume specified in the Draize rabbit eye irritation test and thereby produces less ocular injury than the latter test.³ This results in a more humane test with better discrimination between moderate irritants than with a 0.1 mL volume.^{6 ,7}