Here, using two genetic approaches, a systemic Gadd34 knockout and a photoreceptor conditional Perk knockout, to alter p-eIF2α levels in rd16 mice, we demonstrate not only that degenerating retinas may not use this mechanism to signal for a decline in protein synthesis rates but also that modulation of p-eIF2α levels is insufficient to delay retinal degeneration. The gene discussed is EIF2A; the disease is retinal degeneration.