Pigmentary epi

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a single layer of pigmented cells located between the neural retina and the choroid. It is vital for retinal health: it absorbs stray light, forms part of the blood-retinal barrier, transports nutrients, phagocytoses shed photoreceptor outer segments, and recycles visual pigments (retinoids). RPE dysfunction is implicated in diseases like age-related macular degeneration.