Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal diseases characterized by progressive loss of photoreceptor cells and retinal pigment epithelium function. Its treatment has long been a focus and challenge in ophthalmic research. Despite advances in therapies such as stem cell transplantation, gene therapy, and retinal prosthetic implants, many difficulties remain. Optogenetic technology, an emerging biological technique combining optics and genetics, holds promise for treating RP by inducing the expression of light-sensitive proteins in degenerated retinal cells, thereby partially restoring patients' vision and light sensitivity. However, limitations such as difficulties in selecting target cells, potential risks of viral transfection, and uncertainties in visual restoration still exist. With the continuous improvement of light sensitivity of optogenetic proteins and the development of viral vectors with higher transfection efficiency, it is believed that optogenetic therapy will help more patients regain vision.
视网膜色素变性（RP）是一类由多种遗传因素引起的致盲性眼部疾病，其特点是进行性视网膜光感受器细胞及色素上皮细胞功能丧失。其治疗也一直是眼科研究的重点和难点，尽管干细胞移植、基因治疗、视网膜假体植入等在该病治疗上已经取得进展，但目前仍然面临许多困难。光遗传学技术是一种结合光学和遗传学的新兴生物学技术，它利用光刺激使RP的视网膜细胞表达光敏蛋白，在一定程度上恢复患者视觉和感光能力，但依然存在靶细胞难以选择、病毒转染的潜在风险以及视觉恢复的不确定性等局限。随着光敏蛋白敏感性不断提高，以及更高转染效率的病毒载体不断开发，相信光遗传学技术会帮助更多的患者恢复视觉。.