Vision-Dependent and -Independent Molecular Maturation of Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells

•Temporally regulated gene modules are expressed at distinct phases of postmitotic RGC differentiation in mice.•Transcription factors and recognition molecules are selectively expressed by subsets of 45 developing or adult RGC types.•Three models of visual deprivation showed that vision is dispensable for RGC type specification.•Visual deprivation does, however, affect molecular aspects of RGC maturation and maintenance.