Abstract: MIMO technology has been intensively studied in RF communications, enable space as a kind of resources that can be used in improving communication performance. There are lot of differences between wireless optical communication and RF communication, such as modulation/demodulation method and channel characteristics. The research progress of wireless optical MIMO technology at domestic and abroad was reviewed, a detail analysis of the background of the wireless optical MIMO was carried out. The effects of MIMO inhibits atmospheric turbulence was illustrated by the experiment at last. The results show that the wireless optical MIMO not only make the space as a kind of resources that can be improve the capacity of wireless optical communication channel, but also inhibit atmospheric turbulence effect, expanded field of wireless optical communication applications.