Abstract: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine-threonine kinase that has important regulatory effects on cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, autophagy and ageing. Rapamycin (RAPA) is a macrolide immunosuppressant that is widely used after organ transplantation due to its low toxicity and highly potent immunosuppressive effects. Recent studies have shown that rapamycin has application potential in the treatment of various ophthalmological diseases, especially in anti-transplant rejection after corneal transplantation, keratitis, uveitis, cataracts, glaucoma and ocular fundus diseases. The role of rapamycin in immunosuppression, anti-angiogenesis, anti-fibrosis, neuroprotection reflects the promise of its application in ophthalmic diseases. (Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2023, 47: 68-73)

Key words: rapamycin, eye diseases, mTOR, fungal keratitis, retinitis pigmentosa