Experimentally induced cystine keratopathy in rabbits.

L-Cystine was administered orally to albino and nonalbino rabbits in order to study cystine-induced corneal lesions. Contact and noncontact specular microscopy revealed opaque preendothelial structures similar to those found in benign cystinosis in humans. Light microscopy showed cytoplasmatic vacuoles in the basal cell layer of the corneal epithelium. Using scanning electron microscopy, increased desquamation of the corneal epithelial cells and massive deposition of proteinic material on the surface of the corneal endothelium were demonstrated.