The invention provides an isolated limbal stem or progenitor cell (LSC) population or LSC-like population comprising a chemically synthesized, recombinant or isolated nucleic acid encoding PAX6 integrated into a chromosome, or alternatively, not integrated remaining as an extrachromosomal genetic material, wherein the isolated LSC population is substantially free of non-LSC cells or wherein the LSC-like population is substantially free of non-LSC-like cells, or wherein the isolated LSC or LSC-like population is substantially free of non-LSC and non-LSC-like cells and uses thereof.