The liquid crystal phase modulators (LCPMs) have applications and prospects in fusion ignition, laser processing, optoelectronic countermeasure, laser radar, laser communication, laser protection and so on. However, owing to the limited laser damage resistance of the materials constituting the LCPMs as well as insufficient system research on the laser damage and the phase modulation performance degradation of LCPMs induced by high power lasers, the laser handling power of LCPMs cannot satisfy the requirements of high power laser developments. To provide guidance for optimizing the fabrication process of LCPMs with high laser handling power, we reviewed the laser damage and the phase modulation performance degradation characteristics of LCPMs irradiated by high-peak-power lasers and high-average-power-lasers and then summarized the methods to improve the laser handling power of LCPMs.