PURPOSE: To address the structure, pathway and functions of guidance molecular of netrins.Whats more, the role in retinal development, angiogenesis and diabetic retinopathy is also discussed.METHODS: Literature review from 2000-2014RESULTS: Netrins are secreted extracellular matrix proteins that were first identified as a family of axon out growth-promoting proteins.It contain five subtype and its receptor was identified with DCC and UNC5 homologue Many evidence have proved that netrins are essential to retinal development not only retinal ganglion cell but also rentinal vascular.However, it signal different signal throuth different receptor and concentration, so the dual role in promoting and inhibiting vasculariztion may be explain by the reason display in this review.whats more netrin-1 may plays a key role in some angiogenesis ocular disease such as diabetic retinopathy.In other words, it may be a promising drugs target for anti-neovascular in many disease.