Abstract: Corneal stroma wound healing is a complex process involving cell apoptosis, migration, proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Transforming growth factor β(TGF-β)system plays central roles in regulating the transformation of stromal cells and the fibrosis of stroma, and its dysregulation might be the main cause of stromal haze, scar formation and vision damage. Recently, great progress has been made in the study of corneal stromal wound healing, and various new therapies to attenuate stromal scar have also been developed. The process of corneal stromal wound healing, cellular phenotype transformation and its regulating factors, and strategies of excessive healing control are reviewed.

Key words: stromal scar, keratocyte, haze, corneal stroma, wound healing