Objective To explore the effect of improved operating room nursing on vitrectomy patients with diabetic retinopathy based on change theory.Methods A total of 100 patients with diabetic retinopathy who underwent vitrectomy in Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University from January to December 2023 were selected as study objects.Fifty patients admitted from January to June 2023 were included in control group and received routine nursing in operating room after vitrectomy,and fifty patients admitted from July to December 2023 were included in experimental group to receive improved operating room nursing based on change theory.Operation time,postoperative intraocular pressure,operative stress index,complications and nursing satisfaction were compared between two groups.Results The operation time of experimental group was significantly shorter than that of control group,and the postoperative intraocular pressure was significantly lower than that of control group(P<0.05).At the end of operation,heart rate,mean arterial pressure and mixed venous blood oxygen saturation of two groups were significantly higher than those before operation(P<0.05),heart rate and mean arterial pressure of experimental group were significantly lower than those of control group,and mixed venous blood oxygen saturation was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.05).The complication rate of experimental group was significantly lower than that of control group(P<0.05).The nursing satisfaction score of experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.05).Conclusion The application of improved operating room nursing based on change theory to vitrectomy patients with diabetic retinopathy can shorten the operation time,reduce the stress of surgery,promote postoperative recovery,reduce the incidence of complications,and improve the satisfaction of operating room nursing.