Retinal degenerations are a common cause of blindness in Western countries. Despite various origins of retinal degeneration it is well recognised that. Apoptosis is the final pathway of photoreceptor neuron cell death in these diseases. So that Ivana Scovassi presents the historical development of our knowledge in: apoptosis, its difference with other forms of cell death as necrosis and analyses when and how apoptosis arises, discussing also the molecular markers in this form of cell death. This introductory chapter is followed by a paper of Rafael Linden analysing apoptosis in retinal development. He reviews evidence that tissue specific components controls cell death. In this context the roles of gap junctions, of the extra cellular matrix, and of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides are discussed. The data support the view that histotypical networks impinge upon cell-autonomous mechanisms. Neural cells are very difficult to replace so that they are highly protected from apoptosis and mostly from the action of caspases, the more efficient effectors in this type of cell death. So that caspase independent pathways are extensively discussed in the chapter written by E. Martin and A. Torriglia. In the following chapters discuss the activation of apoptosis in different retinal pathologies. Dr. Barber analyses apoptosis in diabetic retinopathy, which may seem paradoxical since the disease culminates in the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. However experimental data suggest that apoptosis occurs in the neural cells of the retina soon after the onset of diabetes. Apoptosis in retinal degeneration, is analysed by Dejneka and Rex that provide examples of inherited, induced and acquired retinal degenerations, including retinitis pigmentosa, cancer-associated retinopathy, retinal detachment and lead toxicity. A very frequent retinal pathology is glaucoma, disease affecting mostly ganglion cells. Recent advances in this topic are discussed in the chapter written by P. Lassiaz and B. Omri. Finally two chapters deal with the relevance of RPE cells in retinal physiology by underling the effects of apoptosis in this non neural cells in development (Marc Abitbol) and pathology Frederic Mascarelli). This book is far for been exhaustive and covers a limited part of the knowledge in the subject. We hope to provide readers with a series of basical research in the field helping to understand cellular basis of retinal pathology.