Abstract: MicroRNAs are a class of small noncoding RNAs with highly conserved sequence which mediate repression or degradation of protein expression through matching with the target mRNAs at the post transcriptional level. They play an important role in almost all the physiological and pathological processes. Increasing evidence had revealed that aberrant microRNA expression profile can play a vital role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy(DR). MicroRNAs may play diverse roles in diverse DR pathogenesis, including inflammation, neovascularization and apoptosis under different conditions of stimulation. Generaly, microRNAs regulate proteincoding genes by base pairing to the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of target mRNAs in DR such as NFκB, HIF1/VEGF, p53.Exploring the role of intersection between microRNAs and DR will not only enrich the pathogenesis of DR, but also provide us with new breakthrough for DR’s prevention and early treatment.  (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2013, 37: 379-383)