PURPOSE:To approach the establishment of t be optimal method for determining the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration[Ca2+]i of dissociated newborn rabbit retina cells by using fluorescent indicator-Fura-2/AM. METHODS:Trypsin was employed to prepare the retlna cell suspensions which were then loaded with Fura-2/AM followed by fluorescence determination. RESULTS:The cellular viability rate of retina cell suspensiotls prepared by 0.05% trypsin 10 minutes at 37deg;C was over 90%. Loading the retina cell suspensions with Fura-2/AM 40 minutes at 37deg;C and then measurlng the fluorescent intensity of the suspensions within 30 minutes were proved to be the optimum. CONCLUSIONS:The resting [Ca2+]i of retina cell suspension was (223plusmn;27)nmol/L whlch was within the expected range of [Ca2+]i level. 25mmoI/L and S0mmol/L K+ increased the [Ca2+Ji 59% and 148% respectively. These results indicate that the preparation of retina cell suspensions and the method of [Ca2+Ji determination are reliable and feasible. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12: 108-110 ）