Phthalocyanines　are　such　materials　that　optically　limit　nanosecond　light　pulses　in　a　fairly　wide　range　of　the　UV/Vis　spectrum　via　excited　state　absorption　processes,　which　can　be　used　to　protect　human　eyes,　optical　elements　and　sensors　from　intense　laser　pulses.　Optical　limiting　response　can　be　tailored　over　a　broad　range　due　to　the　high　architectural　flexibility　of　the　phthalocyanine　structure.　A　series　of　new　highly　soluble　axially　and　peripherally　substituted　or　bridged　phthalocyanine-based　organic　functional　materials　with　excellent　optical　limiting　potential　have　been　reported　in　recent　years.　The　usual　tendency　of　phthalocyanines　to　form　aggregates　can　be　effectively　suppressed　by　axial　substitution.　The　nanosecond　nonlinear　absorption　and　the　optical　limiting　of　axially　modified　phthalocyanines　are　dominated　by　a　strong　triplet　state　absorption　in　the　optical　region　comprised　between　Q-bands　and　B-bands　in　their　UV/Vis　absorption　spectra.　This　review　lays　special　stress　on　introducing　the　recent　progress　in　this　area.