Abstract: “Seeing” is the basic function of the human eye and the light is everywhere for the eyes. The light passes through the cornea and lens to the retina. After absorbing the photons, the outer segment of the photoreceptors completes the photoelectric transformation through the visual cycle, and transmitting the external visual information to the visual center in the brain. With the increased longevity and artificial light sources, light radiation has an increasing impact on our retinal health, but the mechanisms are not yet clear. We reviewed the studies on light\|induced damage in the retina and discussed the pathological changes such as increased reactive oxygen species, lipofuscin accumulation, and inflammatory activation in the retina: photoreceptor cells, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and glial cells after light damage. Knowledge of mechanisms of light damage can improve our understanding of some disease processes that may be associated with light damage, and aid in the development of new therapies.

Key words: light damage, retina, photoreceptor, retinal pigment epithelium, glia cell