optical polarimetric imaging technique is a novel kind of optical imaging technique. the unique information is obtained by detecting the polarization characteristic of light, which is unavailable by other imaging techniques. therefore, this technique can effectively enhance the detecting dimensions. in recent years, the optical polarimetric imaging technique is proved useful in the fields of clear imaging through haze or some other turbid media. later, the optical polarimetric dehazing methods are developed rapidly as an independent branch, and many achievements are obtained so far. the principles, realization approaches and methods, developments and status quo are fully introduced. © 2017, chinese lasers press. all right reserved.