A large number of RP-related genes have been identified, the most important of which include the retinal haemoglobin genes (RHO genes): e.g., pro-23-His, pro-23Leu, por-347Leu, whose point mutations cause amino acid substitutions or termination of the RHO proteins and result in visual dysfunction; the retinal degeneration lagging genes, Peripherin/RDS genes ( RDS gene); cyclic guanosine phosphodiesterase (PDE gene); and cone-rod homology box gene (CRX gene). Regarding the treatment of RP, some promising achievements have also been made, including: first, retinal transplantation for the treatment of RP has completed the methodological research, and has been in the stage of research focusing on the functional construction and therapeutic effect, and the safety of retinal transplantation technology has been proved by the phase I clinical study; second, the visual prosthesis implantation has become a hot research topic in the field of artificial visual prostheses, and the implantation of retinal prostheses in the subretinal cavity of RP and on the surface of the retina has been completed. The implantation of retinal prosthesis in the subretinal cavity and retinal surface of RP, as well as optic nerve and cortical prosthetic strips; furthermore, neurotrophic factors, cytokines, calcium channel blockers and anti-apoptotic factors have the effect of slowing down photoreceptor degeneration, and comprehensive treatment of RP with combined Chinese and Western medicine and neurotrophic factors has been carried out in more places in China; in addition, stem cell therapy, including embryonic stem cells, neural stem cells and iPS transplantation for the treatment of RP has made great progress and is gradually being used in the clinic; finally, gene therapy has been used in the treatment of RP. Finally, gene therapy, antisense gene therapy for ADRP, gene supplementation technology for ARRP, and anti-apoptosis and neurotrophic factor gene therapy for XLRP, MtRP, SRP, and DRP. Although the five major technology systems (retinal transplantation, visual prosthesis implantation, drug therapy, stem cell and gene therapy) have not yet been fully implemented in the clinic, with the participation of molecular biology, genetic engineering and electronics, nanomaterials and other disciplines, human beings are expected to make a breakthrough in the treatment of RP.