BackgroundWe present the detailed multimodal imaging analysis in a case of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) exhibiting a markedly asymmetric presentation with a novelRP2mutation.Case presentationA 25-year-old woman complained of decreased vision in the right eye as well as night blindness. Her visual acuity was 20/100 (OD) and 20/20 (OS). Fundus examination revealed bone spicule pigmentation with tessellated changes in the fundus within the posterior pole. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed generalized disruption of foveal microstructures in the OD. No abnormal findings were identified, but localized ellipsoid zone band losses were observed on OCT in the OS. Fundus autofluorescence revealed multiple patchy hypo-autofluorescent lesions in the OD and a tapetal-like radial reflex against a dark background in the OS. Fluorescein angiography and OCT angiography revealed diffuse mottled hyperfluorescence with reduced retinal vessel density in the OD and no evidence of vascular compromise in the OS. Goldmann perimetry demonstrated a constricted visual field, and electrophysiological assessment revealed an extinguished rod response and a severely impaired cone response in the OD. Molecular genetic tests via next-generation sequencing revealed the pathogenic variant to be a heterozygous frameshift mutation inRP2(RP2, p.Glu269Glyfs*7), resulting in premature termination of the protein.ConclusionsRandom X-inactivation may be attributed to interocular differences in the severity of XLRP in female carriers. A novel frameshift mutation in theRP2gene and a comprehensive phenotypic evaluation in the current study may broaden the spectrum of the disease in XLRP carriers.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12886-023-02968-4.