Objective: To investigate the association of retinol binding protein 4(RBP4) with type 2 diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Retrospective analysis on clinical parameter and biochemical indicators of 192 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus and 59 cases of controls in physics examination center from September 2011 to June 2012. Results: Patients with retinopathy(DR group) and without retinopathy(NDR group) were significantly higher in age,duration of diabetic,body mass index,waist hip ratio,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,glycosylated hemoglobin A 1 c,fasting blood sugar,fasting insulin,HOMA-IR,total cholesterol,triglyceride,retinol binding protein 4,microalbuminuria and microalbuminuria/creatinine compared with object of controls(N group)(P<0.05),and remarkably lower in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(P<0.05);and no statistic difference in body fatter ratio and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(P>0.05).The level of age,duration of diabetic,retinol binding protein 4,microalbuminuria,microalbuminuria/creatinine,HOMA-IR in DR group were significantly higher than those in NDR group(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that age,duration of diabetes,retinol binding protein 4,microalbuminuria/creatinine,HOMA-IR were independent risk factors,and diastolic blood pressure was a protective agent. Conclusion: The level of retinol binding protein 4,microalbuminuria,microalbuminuria/creatinine,HOMA-IR were remarkably increased in type 2 diabetes with retinopathy.retinol binding protein 4,microalbuminuria/creatinine,HOMA-IR in type 2 diabetic patients with retinopathy were independent risk factors.