Purpose To observe the pathologic changes of retinal photic injury in mice. Methods A light damaged trunk was designed by ourselves.The mice were given an intermitent light exposure for 3 days,12 hours light exposure every day and 12 hours dark adaption before every exposure.Experimental animals were sacrificed on the 1st,6th,12th,18th and 30th day after light injury,and the eyes were enucleated for light and electronic microscopy observation. Results The early pathologic changes including disc membrance swelling,disorganization in outer segments,and mitochondrial swelling,spherical change in inner segments．Then the chromatin densification,liquefaction and margination,and the shrinkage of nuclear membrance were found in the nuclear layer.Finally the outer nuclear layer became thin and disappeared.The apical microvill of RPE cell disappeared and basic fold became flat in some samples. Conclusion The photoreceptor degeneration was the pathologic characteristic of retinal photic injury in mice. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1998,14:215-218)