Circular RNA(circRNA)is a single-stranded covalently closed RNA molecule produced by reverse splicing, which is an evolutionarily conserved and stable transcript, and widely exists in various eukaryotic cells. CircRNA is more stable and conserved than linear transcripts because of the absence of 5'cap and 3'polyadenylation tail in circRNA. A variety of bioactive processes are regulated by circRNA, such as cell differentiation, proliferation, angiogenesis and cell apoptosis. CircRNAs were shown to be key regulators of various diseases, especially cancers, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular. Recently, with the rapid development of RNA high-throughput sequencing technology, accumulating evidence shows that there are multiple differentially expressed circRNAs in ocular tissues and they play important roles in initiation, progression, and prognosis of diverse ocular diseases, such as glaucoma, cataract, retinopathy, ocular tumors and ocular immunologic diseases. In this article, the research on the relationship between circRNA and ophthalmic diseases in the recent years is briefly reviewed, and the purpose is to provide reference for its clinical treatment and prognosis.

国家自然科学基金资助项目(No.81570838)