Here, we find that levels of RTBDN are significantly upregulated in the RhoP23H/+ and Prph2Y141C/+ retinas and that retinal degeneration in these models is exacerbated by removal of Rtbdn, suggesting that RTBDN plays a protective role during the degenerative process across multiple different forms of IRD. The gene discussed is RTBDN; the disease is retinal degeneration.