A use of an emblica extract in preparing a pharmaceutical composition for protecting mitochondria in retina is provided. When the pharmaceutical composition, which comprises the emblica extract, is provided to retinal cells, a use of the pharmaceutical composition comprises improvement of the ability of performing the oxidative phosphorylation for the synthesis of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by the mitochondria in the retinal cells under or exposed to ultraviolet light, and improvement of the coupling efficiency of the synthesis of the adenosine triphosphate by the mitochondria.