Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease, therefore it is a priority medical and social problem. Often with diabetes, it is the ocular manifestations that primarily lead to the disability of patients. The review contains an analysis of the morphological experimental and clinical studies of fundus elements in patients with DM - original research, reviews and monographs by domestic and foreign authors, mainly in recent years. Clinical and morphological changes in diabetes are discussed, early diabetic changes in the retina, blood vessels, and macula are described. The important role of changes in the internal plexiform layer and ganglion cells.