Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most important and common complications of diabetes.The incidence rate and blindness rate increase year by year.Diabetes duration and blood glucose levels are considered as the major risk factors of DR,the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood.In addition,there is increasing evidence supporting that genetic factors may play an important role in the development of DR.DR is a polygenetic disease,recent studies have screened dozens of genetic polymorphisms that may be associated with DR,including vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms that draw world-wide concern.Studying their mechanism in the development of DR is of great importance for prediction,early diagnosis and treatment.Therefore,recent advances in the studies of genetic polymorphisms associated with diabetic retinopathy are reviewed.