PURPOSE:To examine the role of apoptosis in photoreceptor cells degeneration process in Pathologic myopia. METHODS: Nine human eyes with pathologic myopia were studied by histopathologic and TDT-mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) techniques. RESULT:The characteristic DNA fragmentation of apoptosis was observed in scattered photoreceptor cells in 4 of 9 eyes. CONCLUSION:The results suggested that apoptosis is one of the pathways of photoreceptor cells death in retinal degeneration of pathologic myopia. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12: 144-146 )