Optogenetics is a genetic technique that applies illumination with certain wavelength to modulate the biological activity of cells or subcellular components accurately.This technique is friendly to researchers of ophthalmology due to characteristics of the eyes including transparency, accessibility and comparative independence.Optogenetics can be used in retinal neurons, such as retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), even extended to vascular endothelial cells, immune cells and other ocular cells or cell substructures, which can further our understanding of ocular physiology and provide potential, therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases, vascular diseases, inflammation and other eye-related diseases.Improvement in effectiveness, safety and comfort is pivotal for this technique to expand application in ophthalmology and for its function to reach the physiology state of nomal eyes.In this review, a comprehensive analysis of optogenetics progress in ophthalmology was performed.Challenges in imaging including light sensitivity, spatial resolution and temporal resolution, and problems in expression involving local and systemic safety, specificity and persistence were reviewed.

Ophthalmology; Optogenetics; Neurodegenerative disease