Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common and important ocular complication of diabetes and has become one of the leading blindness diseases in China.Hydrogen sulfide is the third gas signaling molecule found after carbon monoxide and nitric oxide.Numerous studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide plays an important physiopathologic role in the nervous system, circulatory system, immune system and endocrine system.Recent studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide and its endogenous enzymes are involved in the pathological process of diabetes and diabetic complications.At present, the protective effect of hydrogen sulfide in the development and progression of DR has been verified by some cell experiments and animal experiments.The protective effect of hydrogen sulfide may be realized through inhibiting apoptosis, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, inhibiting autophagy and neuroprotection.The role of hydrogen sulfide in the pathogenesis of DR was reviewed in this article so as to provide new ideas for the treatment of DR.