Leber遗传性视神经病变(LHON)是临床上常见的遗传性视神经病变,是一种以母系遗传为特征的线粒体疾病,主要由线粒体DNA (mtDNA)3个原发突变G11778A、G3460A和G14484C引起.LHON多见于青壮年男性,主要临床表现为无痛性双侧视力下降或丧失和中心盲点.不完全外显和性别偏好是该病亟待解决的两大难题.虽然目前尚无有效的预防及治疗措施,但在美国进行的LHON基因治疗临床试验已取得初步成功.本文就LHON的临床表现、发病机制、分子遗传学特点、动物模型、基因治疗等进行介绍,进一步加强对本病的认识.“,”Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is one of the most common maternally transmitted hereditary retinal diseases,which is mainly caused by one of the three point mutations in mitochondrial DNA(mt DNA) (G11778A,G3460A and G14484C).LHON is characterized by painless,acute or sub-acute bilateral visual loss in young men with central scotoma.Incomplete dominance and gender bias are two puzzles of this disease.Although currently there is no effective therapy to prevent or cure the LHON,the ongoing clinical trials of gene therapy have showed initial success in some LHON patients with G11778A mutation.Here we summarized recent research progress of LHON,focusing on the clinical features,molecular and pathogenic mechanisms,animal models,and gene therapy of it.