Purpose. The effects of embryonic development on lipid composition in the retina were studied in 7, 11, 15, and 18-day-old chick embryos and newly hatched chicks.Methods. The proportions of phospholipids, free and esterified cholesterol, diacylglycerides, and free fatty acids were determined using the Iatroscan TLC/FID procedure. Gas chromatog-raphy and mass spectrometry were used to determine the fatty acid composition.Results. The major phospholipid species were phosphatidyl-ethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phos-phatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin. Concentrations of the analyzed components have been related to the chronology of concrete stages of retinal development. The fatty acid composition of the total lipids, (n-6):(n-3) and saturated:unsaturated fatty acid ratios, and other parameters are reported. The proportions of total saturated and total monoun-saturated fatty acids decreased very little from day 7 to hatching, whereas total polyunsaturated fatty acids nearly doubled over the same period. The increase in C18:2(n-6) from day 11 onwards was not followed by a similar increase in C20:4(n-6), hence the C20:4 to C18:2 ratio decreased with age.Conclusions. The cholesterol: phospholipid ratio decreased from day 7 to day 15 and increased from day 15 to hatching. High proportions of esterified cholesterol, very probably originating in the retinal pigment epithelium, were also recorded. Total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids decreased, while polyunsaturated fatty acids increased during the period of initial retinal growth.