Retinal degenerative diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration are the main clinical blinding eye diseases with complex etiology and irreversible damage to vision. CX3CR1 is a specific receptor of the chemokine CX3CL1. Both of them participate in various physiological functions and pathological changes of the whole body through regulating the immune system of the body. In recent years, studies have pointed out that CX3CR1 regulates the activity and function of retinal microglia, which play an important role in the process of retinal degenerative diseases. In this paper, the structure and function of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 and the role of microglia in retinal degenerative diseases were reviewed, so as to provide ideas and directions for future research and treatment of such diseases.