Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic microvascular complication, which is mainly caused by metabolic disorders caused by diabetes. However, in clinical work, it is found that some patients do not achieve satisfactory results in delaying the progress of diabetic retinopathy by simply controlling blood sugar, and some other factors contribute to the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy. Also played a role that can not be ignored. Studies have shown that abnormal cholesterol metabolism is one of the main causes of retinopathy in diabetic retinopathy patients with hyperlipidemia. Abnormal cholesterol metabolism leads to the accumulation of cholesterol in the retina and the decrease of retinal vascular endothelial function by weakening the X receptor in the liver, resulting in the formation of retinal ischemia and hypoxia environment. it can also increase the expression of inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecule-1 to make the originally morbid retinal vessels more fragile. This paper summarizes the pathological factors of diabetic retinopathy. By comparing and analyzing the main treatment methods of diabetic retinopathy at present, and by analyzing the influence of cholesterol reverse transport (cholesterolreversetransport,RCT) pathway on the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy, it is found that reducing hyperlipidemia can improve the cure rate of diabetic retinopathy, which will provide new ideas for the clinical prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy.