Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor family contains Pryrin domain protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome, which is an intracellular protein complex. Large release of ROS can activate the production of intracellular NLRP3 inflammasome. It consists of NLRP3, a cysteine protease recruitment domain(ASC),and a pro-caspase-1 precursor, can activate caspase-1 while being assembled. Then, the cytokines interleukin-1 and interleukin-18(pro-Il-1/18)are cleaved into mature forms by caspase-1 to perform their pro-inflammatory functions. pyroptosis refers to the programmed cell death of Caspase-1-dependent cells mediated by inflammasome. This article reviews the structure and function of NLRP3 inflammasome, its relationship with pyroptosis, and the research progress in ophthalmic diseases.