Abstract:The cornea, a transparent tissue essential for refractive function and visual quality, is vulnerable to injury and disease that can impair vision or cause blindness. Conventional therapies—topical drugs and transplantation—are constrained by immune rejection, donor shortages, and limited long?term efficacy. Exosomes, nano?sized extracellular vesicles carrying proteins, lipids, mRNAs, miRNAs, and other bioactive molecules, combine low immunogenicity and excellent biocompatibility with targeted delivery and sustained modulation of inflammation and tissue repair. Consequently, they present a promising strategy to overcome the limitations of traditional corneal treatments. This review synthesizes recent advances in exosome sources, mechanisms, and therapeutic applications for corneal wound healing, immunomodulation, and disease management, with the aim of informing standardized preclinical and clinical translation.
