Pericytes are vascular mural cells which play multiple roles in angiogenesis and
maintenance of blood vessel morphology and stability. In this review, we analyze recent
data on the participation of pericytes in the pathogenesis of proliferative and non-
proliferative diabetic retinopathy, as well as an emerging role in other angiogenic ocular
diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity. Ways to exploit pericytes as targets for
treatment of ocular diseases are discussed.