The invention discloses a vision detection system and method. The system comprises a calculating unit, a mechanical arm, a camera and a camera mounting frame, the camera is arranged in the camera mounting frame, and the calculating unit is correspondingly connected with the mechanical arm and the camera, and comprises a movement control module, a defect detection module, a removal processing module and a movement detection module. According to the system and the method, image processing is carried out on a workpiece image, then the image is divided into different lighting detection areas, andeach lighting detection area is detected to judge whether defects exist or not, so that the detection area of the workpiece does not need to be set according to the shape structure of the workpiece through complicated steps by manpower in advance, the use is flexible and convenient, and the working efficiency is improved; and due to the fact that the defect detection on the different lighting detection areas is carried out at the same time, more time is saved, the movement detection is carried out on the workpieces, so that the detection rate of unqualified workpieces is improved, and the system and the method can be widely applied to the field of visual detection.