OBJECTIVE： To explore the protective effects of Tongmaitang yanming capsules on retinal damage of aged rats. METHODS： Aged rats （aged 24 months） were randomly divided into Tongmaitang yanming capsule high-dose， medium-dose and low-dose groups （1.750， 0.875， 0.378 g/kg）， positive control drug group （Calcium dobesilate capsules， 0.175 g/kg） and model group， with 10 rats in each group. They were given relevant medicine intragastrically once a day for consecutive 90 days. At the end of the 90th day， another 10 rats aged 1.5 months were included into blank control group. After medication， 60 rats were provided with water but no food for 12 hours. Blood sample was collected from femoral， and the serum levels of GSH-Px， GSH， SOD and MDA was determined， respectively； right eyes were sampled， pathological change of retina was observed by HE staining and the number of retinal cell layer （RCL） neurons was counted. RESULTS： Compared with blank control group， serum levels of GSH-Px， GSH and SOD decreased in model group， while MDA level increased； the number of RCL neurons was （59±4）％ of blank control group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， and retina damage was found. Compared with model group， the serum levels of GSH-Px，GSH and SOD increased in positive control drug group and Tongmaitang yanming capsule groups， while MDA level decreased； the number of RCL neurons in those groups were （98±7）％， （69±5）％， （78±7）％ and （95±6）％ of blank control group， respectively （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； retina damage was relieved. CONCLUSIONS： Tongmaitang yanming capsules can inhibit aging-induced lipid peroxidation of rat retina， prevent the progressive loss of retina neurons and protect aging-induced retina damage of rats.