Protease inhibitors, routinely used in the treatment of HIV infection may soon provide neuro- protection against cell death in the retina. Research, conducted at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard Medical School, has shown that there may be an opportunity to slow the loss of photoreceptor cells in disorders characterised by apoptotic cell death. The research findings obtained with clinically approved drugs may have significant implications for the treatment of common ocular diseases including age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.