Objective To explore the effects of Lycium barbarum soup on retina histological structure and related active substances in mice injured by heroin. Method Totally 120 Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, heroin group, Lycium barbarum 1 group and Lycium barbarum 2 group. The mice were intraperitoneal^ injected escalation with doses (2, 4, 6 g/L) heroin 0.2 ml continuous (1-5 N 6-10 and 11-15 days) for 15 days (twice a day). One hour after injected heroin, Lycium barbarum 1 and 2 group was intragastric administration with (1.0 g/kg, 2.0 g/kg) Lycium barbarum soup for 0.2 ml. The changes of retina tissue structure were observed by biomicroscopy, the changes of plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and retina inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity were detected by colorimetry, the changes of Caspase-3 and nuclear factor (NF)-kappa;B protein expression in retina was detected by immunohistochemistry method. Result Compared with the control group, the retina tissue of the heroin group was damaged in varying degrees, ganglion cells decreased, vacuolated degeneration occurred, the structure of the inner and outer nuclear layers was disordered, loose and reticular. The LDH activity of plasma increased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The iNOS activity of retina increased significantly (P<0.01). The Caspase-3 and NF-kappa;B protein expression of retina increased, and the average optical density increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the heroin group, the ganglion cell layer vacuolation of the retina in Lycium barbarum 1 and 2 groups was reduced, the inner and outer nuclear layers were arranged orderly. The LDH activity of plasma decreased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The iNOS activity of retina decreased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The Caspase-3 and NF-kappa;B protein expression of retina decreased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion Lycium barbarum soup can improve the anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory ability of cells, inhibit Caspase-3 expression and NF-kappa;B activation of retina. It can effectively reduce the damage of heroin on the retina and has a certain protective effect on the retina.