Resveratrol is a polyphenol with various properties. Oncological studies have shown an excellent anti-carcinogenic effect. Due to many overlaps between tumor-mediating signaling pathways and those which mediate neovascularization and proliferation in retinal diseases, this review intends to focus on studies about the application of resveratrol in diseases of the eye fundus in vitro and in vivo. Resveratrol has been well investigated in cell culture studies and animal models. Ophthalmological in vitro and in vivo investigations have shown a large variety of possible effects without toxic side effects and antiproliferative and immune modulatory effects in particular were observed. There is general consensus that the target protein of resveratrol is NF-κB. Clinical studies are needed to confirm these effects observed in cell culture and animal models. The exact mechanism of resveratrol remains unknown and seems to vary between cell types, tissues and the pathophysiological environment.