A new selective and sensitive Lanthanum (La) ions optical sensor based on immobilization of N-(2aminoethyl)-salicylaldimine (AESI) prepared on a triacetylcellulose membrane was prepared. The prepared optode exhibited a linear range of 30 to 150 part per billion (ppb) of the La (III) ion concentration with a detection limit of 14.38 ppb. The response time of the newly designed optode was deriven within 30 -60 s, depending on the La (III) ion concentration, however is independent to the pH of the solution in the range of 3.0-5.0. The proposed optode indicated low detection limit, fast response time and also remarkable selectivity regarding to the number of transition metals ions (i.e. Ce 3+ ,Cu 2+ , Cd 2+ , Cr 3+ , Zn 2+ , Hg 2+ , and Fe 2+ ). The optode was successfully regenerated with a thiourea solution, and its response which might be reversible and reproducible showed the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of less than 1.48% . This optode was applied for determining the La (III) ions in water samples.