The invention aims to provide the application of a CNTF (ciliary neurotrophic factor) to promotion of corneal limbal stem cell proliferation and promotion of corneal epithelium damage repair, and in particular relates to uses of the CNTF and derivatives thereof to preparation of medicines and medicine compositions. The CNTF can be used for cultivating ocular surface corneal and conjunctival epithelium stem cells, treating diabetic keratopathy, treating neuropathic keratitis and treating corneal limbal stem cell deficiency.