Growth factor and ocular scarring

Growth factors play a part in every stage of the wound healing process that leads to scar tissue formation. Ocular scarring can cause decreased vision or blindness by virtue of the opaque nature of the new matrix that is deposited as scar tissue (as in the lens or cornea). In addition, the contractile nature of the ocular scar tissue is the most common cause of failed retinal attachment. Scar formation after glaucoma surgery can lead to surgery failure. Growth factors, particularly the transforming growth factor (TGF-βs), play a major role in scar tissue formation in the eye and induce the synthesis of growth factors that control cell migration, proliferation, enzyme production and matrix deposition. Neurotrophins are also neuroprotective and can delay ganglion cell death, thus delaying scar formation in the retina if retinal attachment is restored promptly. Growth factors can be seen as a major target for preventing ocular scarring in the future.