This site uses tracking information. Visit our privacy policy. Click to agree to this policy and not see this again.

Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Tapetal sheen associated with the carrier state of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa

Tapetal sheen associated with the carrier state of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa

Category(ies): Retina, Vitreous, Genetics
Contributor: Jesse Vislisel, MD
Photographer: Brice Critser, CRA

Female carriers of X-linked recessive eye diseases may show variable expression of the disorders depending on the timing of X-inactivation. Patients with late X-inactivation have widely dispersed affected cells intermixed with unaffected cells, sometimes producing a characteristic tapetal reflex or "metallic sheen" as seen in this photograph. This patient is an asymptomatic carrier of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa who has two affected sons.