Objective To investigate the correlation of cerebral small vessel disease with retinal vascular network parameters using fully automatic retinal image analysis of fundus photographs. Methods A total of 121 patients undertak?ing fundus photography in a sitting position were included. They were divided into either a cerebral small vessel disease group (n=80) or an artery atherosclerotic cerebral infarction group (n=41) according to their cerebral MRI findings. The clinical data and retinal vascular network parameters were compared between the two groups. We used logistic regression to analyse risk factors of the small vessel disease. Results The percentage of males, the incidence of smoking and serum uric acid level in the small vessel disease group were lower than those in the artery atherosclerotic cerebral infarction group(P<0.05). The bifurcation coefficient and asymmetry index of venule in the small vessel disease group were lower than those in the artery atherosclerotic cerebral infarction group(P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting vascular risk factors, decreased asymmetry index of venule was associated with cerebral small vessel disease (OR=1.16,95% CI:1.05-1.38,P<0.05). Conclusions The decreased asymmetry index of venule is associated with small vessel disease which can be used as an early diagnotic indicator.