Vitamin A is a key material for visual function and its metabolism is always important topics in visual sciences. TOF-SIMS (SIMS: secondary ion mass spectrometry) can detect organic materials and elements in relation to the cell and tissue. Changes of vitamin A distribution in the rat retina under light and dark adaptations were detected with TOF-SIMS. Vitamin A is present in combination with polyunsaturated fatty acids in the living cell. Vitamin E participates in the membrane stability. Thus we examined not only vitamin A, but also vitamin E. In light condition, vitamins A and E were increased in the photoreceptor cell. These findings suggest that these vitamins are increased in the light exposed retina. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.