Abstract: Retinal degenerative diseases, characterized by progressive loss of photoreceptors, cause irreversible damage to vision. In the past, apoptosis and necrosis were considered to be the main mechanisms of photoreceptor death. Recently, pyrodeath, autophagy, PARP-1-dependent cell death and iron death have been confirmed to be related to photoreceptor death. Specially, autophagy has a dual effect on photoreceptor cells. Inhibition of these signaling pathways can reduce the photoreceptor death in retinal degenerative diseases. With the further of the understanding of cell death, the diagnosis and treatment of retinal degenerative diseases will be updated and improved.

Key words: retinal degenerative diseases, photoreceptor, cell death