Figure 1. Convergence of phagocytosis, autophagy, and the visual cycle. The RPE performs 2 vital functions that support vision, phagocytosis, and the visual cycle. Phagocytosis and degradation of POS are mediated by a noncanonical form of autophagy termed LC3-associated phagocytosis. Engulfed POS enter the phagosome, and the ATG12–ATG5-ATG16L1 complex is recruited, as is the lipidated form of LC3 (LC3-II). Only then does the lysosome fuse with the phagosome forming the phagolysosome leading to degradation of the POS cargo. The second critical process is the classic retinoid visual cycle that begins following the absorption of light in the photoreceptors by visual pigments containing the chromophore 11-cis RAL. This generates all-trans ROL which is transported to the RPE for conversion back to 11-cis RAL to recharge the pigments. These 2 critical pathways converge as the recovery of all-trans ROL for 11-cis RAL synthesis in the RPE is aided by the POS phagocytosis and degradation pathway.