Roughly 10 percent of the American population lives with a neurodevelopmental condition, including autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, learning disorders, auditory and visual processing disorders, and more. Salk researchers uncover link between severe maternal illness during pregnancy and elevated risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in mice. Findings show maternal immune activation, as occurs during illness, leads to widespread epigenetic changes and altered frontal cortex in offspring.

Corneal disorders remain a leading cause of visual impairment worldwide, with limited treatment options for many conditions including severe dry eye disease, corneal ulcers, scarring, and dystrophies. Exosomes, nanoscale extracellular vesicles carrying diverse bioactive molecules, have emerged as a promising therapeutic modality for corneal disease. This comprehensive review examines the current landscape and future outlook of exosome-based therapies in ophthalmology, focusing on corneal disorders. The authors summarize the fundamental biology of corneal exosomes and their roles in maintaining corneal homeostasis and driving disease processes. Robust preclinical evidence demonstrates that exosomes can promote epithelial wound healing, modulate inflammation and fibrosis, and support tissue regeneration across major corneal conditions. Emerging clinical studies are beginning to assess safety and feasibility in human patients. The review also addresses critical aspects of exosome isolation, characterization, engineering, and delivery strategies relevant for clinical translation. Despite encouraging findings, major challenges remain in standardizing manufacturing and quality control, ensuring long-term safety, and achieving consistent therapeutic efficacy. Future research should prioritize optimization of exosome production and delivery, rational engineering to enhance performance, and exploration of exosomes as diagnostic biomarkers, collectively paving the way for transforming corneal disease management.