Objective：To investigate the protective effects of genistein(gen)on human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)cells injury induced by KC1 and CoCl2，Methods：Injury was induced by KC1 and CoC12 in RPE cells．The cells viability was measured by M1Tr assay and morphological changes of the cells were recorded．Results：KC1 could significantly decrease the survival rate of RPE cells at 1 2 h，and gen markedly increased the survival rate in a concentration-dependent manner．RPE cells presented progressively destruction of cell membrane at 2 h and pycnosis of cell nuclear at 4 h after 200 mmol／L KCl treatment．At 8 h after KCl treatment．pycnosis and batt-liked cell membrane could be seen Only pycnosis could be observed at 1 2 h．These changes could he inhibited by 200 ~mol／L gen．CoC12 could also inhibit the survival rate of RPE cells and gen could concentration．dependently elevate the survival rate．No significant morphological changes of RPE cells induced by CoC12 were f0und．Conclusion：Gen could be effective agent in protection on the injury induced by KC1 and CoC12 in cultured RPE cells．