SLC1 family is classified as glutamate transporters, also referred to as excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), which regulate glutamatergic signal transmission by clearing excess glutamate after synaptic release in the mammalian central nervous system. Dysfunction of EAATs results in glutamate accumulation in the synaptic cleft, which can be cytotoxic to neurons, and may cause neurological disorders. SLC1A7/EAAT5 is a unique glutamate transporter highly expressed in mammalian retina, but association with visual defects has not been reported yet.