Abstract: Circular RNA (circRNA) is a special type of non-coding RNA molecule ubiquitous in eukaryotes. It has a closed loop structure, and is highly conservative and stable, and has a regulatory role in a variety of diseases. CircRNA can participate in the regulation of retinal inflammation, cell apoptosis, angiogenesis, and oxidative stress response, etc., and plays an important regulatory role in eye development and disease progression. The change of circRNA may be earlier than the change of the fundus morphology, so the circRNA detected in tissues, saliva, blood and exosomes is expected to be used for biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of retinal diseases (such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, etc.). Intervention of circRNA expression can significantly affect the biological functions of vascular endothelial cells and regulate vascular permeability. It is expected to be used as a gene therapy method to provide a new direction for the treatment of retinal diseases.(Int Rev Ophthalmol, 2020, 45: 455-458)

Key words: circular RNA, retinal diseases