AIM: To compare the clinical manifestation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis and microvascular retinopathy (MVR) in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in China. METHODS : A total of 93 consecutive patients with AIDS, including 41 cases of CMV retinitis and 52 cases of MVR were retrospectively reviewed. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) status was recorded. HIV and CMV immunoassay were also tested. CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and blood CMV-DNA test were performed in all patients. Aqueous humor CMV-DNA test was completed in 39 patients. Ophthalmological examinations including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA, by International Standard Vision Chart), intraocular pressure (IOP), slit-lamp biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed. RESULTS : In MVR group, the anterior segment examination was normal in all patients with a mean BCVA of 0.93 +/- 0.13. Blood CMV-DNA was 0 (0, 269 000) and 42 patients (80.77%) did not receive HAART. In CMV retinitis group, 13 patients (31.71%) had anterior segment abnormality. The mean BCVA was 0.64 +/- 0.35 and blood CMV-DNA was 3470 (0, 1 450 000). Nineteen patients (46.34%) had not received HAART. MVR group and CMV retinitis group the positive rates of aqueous CMV-DNA were 0 and 50%, respectively. Two patients with MVR progressed to CMV retinitis during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: In comparison of CMV, patients with MVR have relatively mild visual function impairment. Careful ophthalmological examination and close follow-up are mandatory, especially for patients who have systemic complications, positive CMV-DNA test and without received HAART.