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Light-induced damage of the photosynthetic apparatus in plants is an important phenomenon that primarily affects the photosystem II complex. Here, we propose a new model of photoinhibition in which charge recombination processes have a double-faced role: first, photodamage is induced by singlet oxygen, which is produced via interaction with the triplet reaction center chlorophyll (³P₆₈₀) arising from the recombination of the charge-separated state between P₆₈₀ and the pheophytin electron acceptor (³[P₆₈₀⁺Phe⁻]). Second, photoprotection is provided by competition between ³[P₆₈₀⁺Phe⁻] formation and direct recombination of the ¹[P₆₈₀⁺Phe⁻] and P₆₈₀⁺Q_A⁻ states. The efficiency of these two pathways is under control of the redox potential of the Phe and Q_A electron acceptors, which is utilized during adaptation to high light conditions.