Vital staining of external eye of rabbit.

Fifty normal albino rabbits (Ssc: CPH) had 1% fluorescein and 1% rose bengal instilled into the right eye and 1% tetrazolium and 0.25% alcian blue into the left eye. The cornea was stained by fluorescein in no more than 2%, by rose bengal frequently (48%) and intensely, often over the area coverable by the nictitating membrane, and by tetrazolium correspondingly in 28%. Rosen bengal stained the nictitating membrane, and often follicles along the border. Marx' line was seen to be regular, festoon-shaped. Unlike the human Marx' line, that of the rabbit does not continue through the punctum lacrimale found 3 mm behind the lid margin at the nictitating membrane. The passage of tears takes a few minutes. The alcian-blue-stained mucous thread resembled the human one. Percentage values and mean staining grades have been stated for the individual regions.