神经血管单元(NVU)的概念在2001年的一次卒中会议上形成。这一概念强调脑与其血管的密切关系，即脑细胞与脑血管之间在发育、结构和功能上相互依赖的共生关系。视网膜是脑神经组织的延伸，2007年一些研究者将NVU概念引入视网膜。视网膜的NVU包括神经元、胶质细胞、微血管内皮细胞和周细胞等。研究发现，NVU功能障碍在糖尿病视网膜病变(DR)中起关键作用，而现行有限的治疗集中在晚期并发症糖尿病性黄斑水肿及增生性DR，对视网膜NVU的深入研究将为早期或全程DR提供有效疗法。

The concept of neurovascular unit(NVU), formalized in 2001 at a stroke conference, emphasizes the intimate relationship between the brain and its vessels, i.e., symbiotic relationship between brain cells and cerebral blood vessels in the developmental, structural and functional interdependence. The retina is a piece of brain. Several researchers have introduced the concept of NVU to the retina since 2007. The NVU in the retina includes neurons, glial cells, microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes. Dysfunctional NVU plays a critical role in diabetic retinopathy(DR). The current limited treatments for DR focus on the late-stage complications, i.e., diabetic macular edema and proliferative DR. While the further study on retinal NVU will develop efficacious therapeutic options for the early and all stages of DR.