Exosomes in the pathogenesis and treatment of ocular diseases

Exosomes have diverse functions and rich content and are involved in intercellular communication, immune regulation, viral infection, tissue regeneration, and the occurrence, development and metastasis of tumours. Notably, various stem cell-derived exosomes are expected to become new therapeutic approaches for inflammatory diseases and tumours and have good clinical application prospects. However, few studies have examined exosomes in ophthalmic diseases. Therefore, based on the functions of exosomes, this paper summarizes progress in the possible use of exosomes as treatment for specific ophthalmic diseases, aiming to determine the pathogenesis of exosomes to achieve more effective clinical diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. •Five roles of exosomes in biological processes.•Five roles of exosomes in disease progression.•The role of exosomes in the pathogenesis and treatment of ocular diseases, mainly related to various stem cells and RNAs.•Main topics include SS, Corneal lesions, Glaucoma, Autoimmune uveitis, AMD, DR.