Oils are critical for several reasons: - Refractive Index Matching: Immersion oils help in matching the refractive index of glass slides and objective lenses, thereby reducing light refraction and enhancing image clarity. - Tissue Preservation: Some oils are used to preserve the integrity of tissue samples by preventing dehydration and maintaining structural fidelity. - Staining: Certain oils can be used as solvents in staining protocols, aiding in the penetration of dyes into tissues.