*2.4. Histology*

Rat eyes from each experimental group were enucleated and embedded in optimal cutting temperature (OCT) mounting medium (Tissue-Tek, Torrance, CA, USA). Samples were then sectioned (10 μm), stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and examined centrally and on each side (temporal and nasal) of the optic nerve. Retinas were examined using a Zeiss Axioplan-2 microscope (Carl Zeiss, Göttingen, Germany) equipped with a high-resolution camera and processed using imaging Spot Software (version 4.0.2; Diagnostic Instruments, Sterling Heights, MI). Morphometric analysis was conducted to measure total retinal thickness.
