〔Abstract〕 As a functional anatomical marker of cellular activity and neural circuitry, c-Fos protein has been extensively utilized in studies which investigate neuroendocrine regulation, autonomic nervous system activity, and behavioral responses to stress. Recent research in ophthalmology has revealed that dynamic c-Fos expression is closely associated with pathophysiological processes such as retinal ganglion cell apoptosis, visual cortical plasticity, photodamage repair, and angiogenesis. This review aims to summarize the mechanistic roles of c-Fos protein in ocular diseases including glaucoma, amblyopia, and retinopathy, as well as exploring potential therapeutic approaches targeting c-Fos modulation. The studies have shown that the activation ofc-Fos protein can promote the development of neurons in the visual cortex, and the inhibition ofc-Fos can delay the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells, neuroglia and photoreceptors in retinal and optic nerve diseases.